title: Quantitative three-dimensional photoacoustic tomography of the finger joints: phantom studies in a spherical scanning geometry.
abstract: In this paper, we present a series of phantom experiments that aim to systematically evaluate the possibility of quantitative three-dimensional (3D) photoacoustic imaging of the finger joints in a spherical scanning geometry. The 3D absorption coefficient images of the joint-mimicking phantoms are obtained using our finite-element-based photoacoustic image reconstruction algorithm coupled with the photon diffusion equation. The results show that a 1 mm thick 'cartilage' can be accurately differentiated from the 'bones' with a 1 MHz transducer. In addition, the absorption coefficient of the 'cartilage' can be effectively recovered when this optical property is varied from 0.015 to 0.04 mm(-1). The phantom images shown in this paper suggest that 3D photoacoustic tomography in a spherical scanning geometry has the potential to image a realistic human joint.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
authors.forename: Yao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Huabei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005384:Finger Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014054:Tomography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*