Rashid Al Mukaddim, M.S.
Coronary heart disease including myocardial infarction (MI) is one of leading causes of mortality accounting for 1 in 7 deaths in the US with over 360,000 fatalities each year. Non-invasive imaging modalities play paramount role in earlier detection of anomaly in cardiovascular dynamics. Our research group is currently investigating improved assessment of cardiovascular dynamics using Photoacoustic Imaging (PAI).
PAI is an evolving real-time biomedical imaging modality that combines optical imaging contrast with ultrasonic spatial resolution. PAI illuminates tissue with short pulses of electromagnetic radiation typically ranging from 700-900 nm. Light energy is selectively absorbed by endogenous chromophores present in tissue resulting in rapid thermo-elastic expansion. This thermo-elastic expansion generates broadband acoustic waves which are detected using ultrasound transducers. Photoacoustic (PA) images provide anatomical information with ultrasound imaging coupled with tissue specific information such as oxygen saturation via the optical absorption contrast. In our lab, we are utilizing multi-wavelength PAI for the diagnosis and monitoring of myocardial ischemia in murine models. Recent results have shown PAI to be sensitive to changes in myocardial oxygenation associated with acute myocardial ischemia.
Oxy-Hemo PA images at (a) baseline, (b) 30 minutes, (c) 80 minutes, (d) 120 minutes and (e) 24 hours after LAD ligation. The heat map represents % sO2 levels ranging from 0% (dark blue) to 100% (dark red).
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