Deán-Ben, X.L. et al. Light Sci. Appl. 6, e16247 (2016).

Optoacoustic imaging, also known as photoacoustic imaging, is gaining popularity because it does not have the same limitations as optical imaging when visualizing structures deep within tissues or even throughout mice. However, generating high-resolution 3D images of organs and whole animals with good temporal resolution is challenging. Deán-Ben et al. have begun to overcome these limitations with their method, spiral volumetric optoacoustic tomography (SVOT). In SVOT, optoacoustic image data are acquired along a spiral scanning trajectory using a spherical matrix ultrasound detection array, which enables real-time 3D imaging. The researchers demonstrated 3D tomography of whole mice in 5 minutes, and they were able to do fast imaging of mouse cardiac dynamics. This fast imaging enabled the team to clearly distinguish between heart perfusion dynamics and faster cardiac and respiratory motion.

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