Journal of Innovative Optical Health Sciences, Volume. 17, Issue 6, 2450004(2024)

Photoacoustic/ultrasound dual-modal imaging of human nails: A pilot study

Yanting Wen1,2, Yijie Huang3, Lin Huang3, Dan Wu2, Renbin Zhong3, Shixie Jiang4, Yudi Zhang1, Ting Liu1, Xiaotian Liu1、*, and Huabei Jiang5、**
Author Affiliations
  • 1Department of Ultrasound, Chengdu Fifth People’s Hospital, Chengdu 611137, P. R. China
  • 2School of Computer Science and Technology, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Chongqing 400065, P. R. China
  • 3School of Electronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology, Chengdu 611731, P. R. China
  • 4Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
  • 5Department of Medical Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa 33620, USA
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    Traditional diagnostic techniques including visual examination, ultrasound (US), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have limitations of in-depth information for the detection of nail disorders, resolution, and practicality. This pilot study, for the first time, evaluates a dual-modality imaging system that combines photoacoustic tomography (PAT) with the US for the multiparametric quantitative assessment of human nail. The study involved a small cohort of five healthy volunteers who underwent PAT/US imaging for acquiring the nail unit data. The PAT/US dual-modality imaging successfully revealed the fine anatomical structures and microvascular distribution within the nail and nail bed. Moreover, this system utilized multispectral PAT to analyze functional tissue parameters, including oxygenated hemoglobin, deoxyhemoglobin, oxygen saturation, and collagen under tourniquet and cold stimulus tests to evaluate changes in the microcirculation of the nail bed. The quantitative analysis of multispectral PAT reconstructed images demonstrated heightened sensitivity in detecting alterations in blood oxygenation levels and collagen content within the nail bed, under simulated different physiological conditions. This pilot study highlights the potential of PAT/US dual-modality imaging as a real-time, noninvasive diagnostic modality for evaluating human nail health and for early detection of nail bed pathologies.

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    Yanting Wen, Yijie Huang, Lin Huang, Dan Wu, Renbin Zhong, Shixie Jiang, Yudi Zhang, Ting Liu, Xiaotian Liu, Huabei Jiang. Photoacoustic/ultrasound dual-modal imaging of human nails: A pilot study[J]. Journal of Innovative Optical Health Sciences, 2024, 17(6): 2450004

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    Paper Information

    Category: Research Articles

    Received: Jan. 21, 2024

    Accepted: Mar. 3, 2024

    Published Online: Nov. 13, 2024

    The Author Email: Xiaotian Liu (18980819458@163.com), Huabei Jiang (hjiang1@usf.edu)

    DOI:10.1142/S1793545824500044

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