The technology, known as RUS-PAT (rotational ultrasound tomography combined with photoacoustic tomography), integrates the strengths of ultrasound imaging and photoacoustic imaging into a single system.
According to the researchers, the system addresses several limitations associated with conventional medical imaging technologies.
The researchers believe the technology could improve breast tumor imaging by enabling physicians to assess tumor location, tissue surroundings, and vascular characteristics simultaneously.
Compared to conventional imaging methods, the RUS-PAT system is designed to provide rapid, non-invasive imaging suitable for repeated monitoring.
The current system can image tissues up to approximately four centimeters deep, while future developments may allow deeper imaging through endoscopic light delivery.
Researchers from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and the University of Southern California (USC) have introduced a new medical imaging technique capable of producing high-resolution, three-dimensional (3D) images that simultaneously reveal tissue structure and blood-vessel function.
The technology, known as RUS-PAT (rotational ultrasound tomography combined with photoacoustic tomography), integrates the strengths of ultrasound imaging and photoacoustic imaging into a single system.
According to the researchers, the system addresses several limitations associated with conventional medical imaging technologies. Traditional ultrasound is widely used because it is fast, affordable, and effective for viewing soft tissue structures, but it generally produces only two-dimensional images and offers limited information about blood flow and vascular function. Photoacoustic tomography, meanwhile, can visualize blood vessels and oxygenation by using laser pulses to generate sound waves inside tissue, but it lacks sufficient structural detail when used independently.
The researchers believe the technology could improve breast tumor imaging by enabling physicians to assess tumor location, tissue surroundings, and vascular characteristics simultaneously. Additional applications may include monitoring diabetic neuropathy by tracking oxygen supply and tissue morphology, as well as advanced brain imaging to observe both anatomical structures and blood-flow dynamics.
Compared to conventional imaging methods, the RUS-PAT system is designed to provide rapid, non-invasive imaging suitable for repeated monitoring. It may also provide an alternative to imaging methods such as CT scans, which involve ionizing radiation, and MRI systems, which can be costly and time-consuming. The current system can image tissues up to approximately four centimeters deep, while future developments may allow deeper imaging through endoscopic light delivery.
