Massively parallel functional photoacoustic computed tomography of the human brain

Shuai Na; Jonathan J. Russin; Li Lin; Xiaoyun Yuan; Peng Hu; Kay B. Jann; Lirong Yan; Konstantin Maslov; Junhui Shi; Danny J. Wang; Charles Y. Liu; Lihong V. Wang

doi:10.1038/s41551-021-00735-8

Massively parallel functional photoacoustic computed tomography of the human brain

Shuai Na, Jonathan J. Russin, Li Lin, Xiaoyun Yuan, Peng Hu, Kay B. Jann, Lirong Yan, Konstantin Maslov, Junhui Shi, Danny J. Wang, Charles Y. Liu^*, Lihong V. Wang^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Radiology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

145 Scopus citations

Abstract

Blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging of the human brain requires bulky equipment for the generation of magnetic fields. Photoacoustic computed tomography obviates the need for magnetic fields by using light and sound to measure deoxyhaemoglobin and oxyhaemoglobin concentrations to then quantify oxygen saturation and blood volumes. Yet, the available imaging speeds, fields of view (FOV), sensitivities and penetration depths have been insufficient for functional imaging of the human brain. Here, we show that massively parallel ultrasonic transducers arranged hemispherically around the human head can produce tomographic images of the brain with a 10-cm-diameter FOV and spatial and temporal resolutions of 350 µm and 2 s, respectively. In patients who had a hemicraniectomy, a comparison of functional photoacoustic computed tomography and 7 T BOLD functional magnetic resonance imaging showed a strong spatial correspondence in the same FOV and a high temporal correlation between BOLD signals and photoacoustic signals, with the latter enabling faster detection of functional activation. Our findings establish the use of photoacoustic computed tomography for human brain imaging.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	584-592
Number of pages	9
Journal	Nature Biomedical Engineering
Volume	6
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41551-021-00735-8
State	Published - May 2022

Funding

We thank G. Corral-Leyva for patient care and Y. Luo for discussion on the potential of artificial intelligence in advancing PACT. This work was sponsored by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants R35 CA220436 (Outstanding Investigator Award), U01 NS099717 (BRAIN Initiative), R01 NS102213, R01 NS114382 and R01 EB028297, and by Caltech internal funds (PPF0021).

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Biotechnology
Bioengineering
Medicine (miscellaneous)
Biomedical Engineering
Computer Science Applications

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10.1038/s41551-021-00735-8

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title = "Massively parallel functional photoacoustic computed tomography of the human brain",

abstract = "Blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging of the human brain requires bulky equipment for the generation of magnetic fields. Photoacoustic computed tomography obviates the need for magnetic fields by using light and sound to measure deoxyhaemoglobin and oxyhaemoglobin concentrations to then quantify oxygen saturation and blood volumes. Yet, the available imaging speeds, fields of view (FOV), sensitivities and penetration depths have been insufficient for functional imaging of the human brain. Here, we show that massively parallel ultrasonic transducers arranged hemispherically around the human head can produce tomographic images of the brain with a 10-cm-diameter FOV and spatial and temporal resolutions of 350 µm and 2 s, respectively. In patients who had a hemicraniectomy, a comparison of functional photoacoustic computed tomography and 7 T BOLD functional magnetic resonance imaging showed a strong spatial correspondence in the same FOV and a high temporal correlation between BOLD signals and photoacoustic signals, with the latter enabling faster detection of functional activation. Our findings establish the use of photoacoustic computed tomography for human brain imaging.",

author = "Shuai Na and Russin, {Jonathan J.} and Li Lin and Xiaoyun Yuan and Peng Hu and Jann, {Kay B.} and Lirong Yan and Konstantin Maslov and Junhui Shi and Wang, {Danny J.} and Liu, {Charles Y.} and Wang, {Lihong V.}",

note = "Funding Information: We thank G. Corral-Leyva for patient care and Y. Luo for discussion on the potential of artificial intelligence in advancing PACT. This work was sponsored by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants R35 CA220436 (Outstanding Investigator Award), U01 NS099717 (BRAIN Initiative), R01 NS102213, R01 NS114382 and R01 EB028297, and by Caltech internal funds (PPF0021). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.",

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doi = "10.1038/s41551-021-00735-8",

language = "English (US)",

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AU - Na, Shuai

AU - Russin, Jonathan J.

AU - Lin, Li

AU - Yuan, Xiaoyun

AU - Hu, Peng

AU - Jann, Kay B.

AU - Yan, Lirong

AU - Maslov, Konstantin

AU - Shi, Junhui

AU - Wang, Danny J.

AU - Liu, Charles Y.

AU - Wang, Lihong V.

N1 - Funding Information: We thank G. Corral-Leyva for patient care and Y. Luo for discussion on the potential of artificial intelligence in advancing PACT. This work was sponsored by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants R35 CA220436 (Outstanding Investigator Award), U01 NS099717 (BRAIN Initiative), R01 NS102213, R01 NS114382 and R01 EB028297, and by Caltech internal funds (PPF0021). Publisher Copyright: © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.

PY - 2022/5

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N2 - Blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging of the human brain requires bulky equipment for the generation of magnetic fields. Photoacoustic computed tomography obviates the need for magnetic fields by using light and sound to measure deoxyhaemoglobin and oxyhaemoglobin concentrations to then quantify oxygen saturation and blood volumes. Yet, the available imaging speeds, fields of view (FOV), sensitivities and penetration depths have been insufficient for functional imaging of the human brain. Here, we show that massively parallel ultrasonic transducers arranged hemispherically around the human head can produce tomographic images of the brain with a 10-cm-diameter FOV and spatial and temporal resolutions of 350 µm and 2 s, respectively. In patients who had a hemicraniectomy, a comparison of functional photoacoustic computed tomography and 7 T BOLD functional magnetic resonance imaging showed a strong spatial correspondence in the same FOV and a high temporal correlation between BOLD signals and photoacoustic signals, with the latter enabling faster detection of functional activation. Our findings establish the use of photoacoustic computed tomography for human brain imaging.

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Massively parallel functional photoacoustic computed tomography of the human brain

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