Enhanced dual-mode imaging: Superior photoacoustic and ultrasound endoscopy in live pigs using a transparent ultrasound transducer
Dual-mode photoacoustic/ultrasound endoscopy (ePAUS) is a promising tool for preclinical and clinical interventions. To be clinically useful, ePAUS must deliver high-performance ultrasound imaging comparable to commercial systems and maintain high photoacoustic imaging performance at long working distances. This requires a transducer with an intact physical aperture and coaxial alignment of acoustic and optical beams within the probe, a challenging integration task. We present a high-performance ePAUS probe with a miniaturized, optically transparent ultrasonic transducer (TUT) called ePAUS-TUT. The 1.8-mm-diameter probe, fitting into standard endoscopic channels, aligns acoustic and optical beams efficiently, achieving commercial-level ultrasound and high-resolution photoacoustic imaging over long distances. These imaging capabilities were validated through in vivo imaging of a rat's rectum and a pig's esophagus. The ePAUS-TUT system substantially enhances feasibility and potential for clinical applications.
Authors
- Minsu Kim (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2883-8502)
- Hyung Ham Kim (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6353-5550)
- Mingyu Ha (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1961-3929)
- J.-H. Kim (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6585-9911)
- Da Hyun Jung (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6668-3113)
- Dasom Heo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0482-6822)
- Joongho Ahn (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5355-4125)
- Donggyu Kim
- Hee Man Kim (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7983-1928)
- Jeongwoo Park (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3366-2329)
- Seonghee Cho (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1343-9827)
Institutions
- Pohang University of Science and Technology (KR)
- Pohang Iron and Steel (South Korea) (KR)
- Yonsei University (KR)
- Severance Hospital (KR)
- Kyungpook National University (KR)
- Pohang TechnoPark (South Korea) (KR)
- Gangnam Severance Hospital (KR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Science Advances
- Published
- 2024-11-22
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adq9960
- Citations
- 53
- Primary Topic
- Photoacoustic and Ultrasonic Imaging
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 9.78
Funders
- Korea Medical Device Development Fund
- National Research Foundation
- Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy
- Ministry of Food and Drug Safety
- National Research Foundation of Korea
- Ministry of Science and ICT, South Korea