Acoustomotive diffuse correlation spectroscopy for sensing mechanical stiffness in tissue-mimicking phantoms
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Many diseases, such as inflammation, dropsy, or tumors, often cause alterations in the mechanical stiffness of human tissues. Ultrasound-based techniques are commonly adopted in clinics for stiffness assessment, whereas optical methodologies hold promise for sensing strain changes and providing optical information pertaining to the microcirculatory network, thereby facilitating comprehensive measurements of tissue physiopathology. Diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS), an emerging dynamic light scattering technique, has been used to capture the enhanced motion of light scatterers induced by acoustic radiation force (ARF). Theoretically, the amplitude of this enhanced scatterers motion is related to the medium stiffness. Based on this relationship, we report a light coherent technique that combines ARF and DCS to qualitatively evaluate changes in the stiffness of medium. We experimentally demonstrate the accuracy and feasibility of this technique for probing stiffness in homogeneous phantom by comparing it with independent ultrasound methods. Additionally, we explore a potential application of this technique in distinguishing between fluid filled lesion and homogeneous tissue through heterogeneous phantom experiments. This unique combination of ARF and DCS, namely, acoustomotive DCS (AM-DCS), would provide an alternative way to measure particle-motion related stiffness, thereby assisting in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
Source: Biomedical Optics Express
DOI: 10.1364/boe.531963
Authors: Wenqi Di, Ruizhi Zhang, Zhiguo Gui, Yu Shang
Institutions: North University of China, Dongguan University of Technology
Language: English
Subfield: Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,913
Awards: G1792742200, G7433242649, G7924382371
OpenAlex ID: W4401524960