title: Interventional multispectral photoacoustic imaging with a clinical ultrasound probe for discriminating nerves and tendons: an ex vivo pilot study.
abstract: Accurate and efficient identification of nerves is an essential component of peripheral nerve blocks. While ultrasound (US) imaging is increasingly used as a guidance modality, it often provides insufficient contrast for identifying nerves from surrounding tissues such as tendons. Electrical nerve stimulators can be used in conjunction with US imaging for discriminating nerves from surrounding tissues, but they are insufficient to reliably prevent neural punctures, so that alternative methods are highly desirable. In this study, an interventional multispectral photoacoustic (PA) imaging system was used to directly compare the signal amplitudes and spectra acquired from nerves and tendons ex vivo, for the first time. The results indicate that the system can provide significantly higher image contrast for discriminating nerves and tendons than that provided by US imaging. As such, photoacoustic imaging could be valuable as an adjunct to US for guiding peripheral nerve blocks.
authors.affiliation: University College London, Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom.|University of French Polynesia, GePaSud, Faa'a 98702, French, Polynesia, France.
authors.forename: Jean Martial
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Mari
authors.affiliation: University College London, Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Wenfeng
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.affiliation: University College Hospital, Department of Anaesthesia, Main Theatres, Maple Bridge Link Corridor, Podium 3, 235 Euston Road, London NW1 2BU, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Simeon J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: West
authors.affiliation: University College London, Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Adrien E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Desjardins
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D061088:Photoacoustic Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013552:Swine; D013710:Tendons / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014159:Transducers; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000295:instrumentation*