title: A 4D neonatal head model for diffuse optical imaging of pre-term to term infants.
abstract: Diffuse optical tomography is most accurate when an individual's MRI data can be used as a spatial prior for image reconstruction and for visualization of the resulting images of changes in oxy- and deoxy-hemoglobin concentration. As this necessitates an MRI scan to be performed for each study, which undermines many of the advantages of diffuse optical methods, the use of registered atlases to model the individual's anatomy is becoming commonplace. Infant studies require carefully age-matched atlases because of the rapid growth and maturation of the infant brain. In this paper, we present a 4D neonatal head model which, for each week from 29 to 44 weeks post-menstrual age, includes: 1) a multi-layered tissue mask which identifies extra-cerebral layers, cerebrospinal fluid, gray matter, white matter, cerebellum and brainstem, 2) a high-density tetrahedral head mesh, 3) surface meshes for the scalp, gray-matter and white matter layers and 4) cranial landmarks and 10-5 locations on the scalp surface. This package, freely available online at www.ucl.ac.uk/medphys/research/4dneonatalmodel can be applied by users of near-infrared spectroscopy and diffuse optical tomography to optimize probe locations, optimize image reconstruction, register data to cortical locations and ultimately improve the accuracy and interpretation of diffuse optical techniques in newborn populations.
authors: Department of Developmental Psychology, University of Padova, Italy. Electronic address: s.brigadoi@ucl.ac.uk.
authors: Sabrina
authors: S
authors: Brigadoi
authors: Centre for the Developing Brain and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Division of Imaging Sciences, King's College London, UK.
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Aljabar
authors: Centre for the Developing Brain and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Division of Imaging Sciences, King's College London, UK.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Kuklisova-Murgasova
authors: Department of Computer Science, University College London, UK.
authors: Simon R
authors: SR
authors: Arridge
authors: Biomedical Optics Research Laboratory, Department of Medical Physics and Bioengineering, University College London, UK.
authors: Robert J
authors: RJ
authors: Cooper
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D059907:Functional Neuroimaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006257:Head / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008959:Models, Neurological; D041622:Tomography, Optical / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Diffuse optical imaging; Diffuse optical tomography; Mesh; NIRS; Neonatal head models; Preterm infants