Thermoacoustic imaging of human finger joints
and bones

• Authors: Huang Lin , Qi Weizhi , Zhao Yuan , Chi Zihui , Zhang Nengzhu , Rong Jian , Lai Dakun
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

In this study, we explore a new application of
thermoacoustic tomography (TAT) for imaging human finger
joints and bones. Three volunteers’ finger joints and
bones were visualized with satisfying image contrast and
spatial resolution by a TAT scanner. The recovered TAT images
revealed apparent microwave absorption differences
between the joint cavity and bone. Beyond the full single
finger imaging, a volunteer’s four fingers were clearly and
concurrently imaged. To confirm our observations, MRI
images of two volunteers’ fingers were performed, and the
TAT recovered shape/size of the fingers were consistent
with the MRI findings. To further assess the feasibility of
TAT for finger joint and bone imaging, we quantitatively
calculated the conductivity of a case. This initial study suggests
that TAT may be a good candidate for screening, diagnosing,
and monitoring treatment of joint and bone diseases.

Keywords

EN

joints; bones; thermoacoustic; tomography

• Publisher: De Gruyter Open
• Journal: X-Acoustics: Imaging and Sensing
• Year: 2014
• Volume: 1
• Issue: 1

Dates

received

1 - 12 - 2014

online

17 - 8 - 2015

accepted

18 - 5 - 2015

Contributors

author

Huang Lin

• School of Physical Electronics, University of Electronic
  Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, China

author

Qi Weizhi

• School of Physical Electronics, University of Electronic
  Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, China

author

Zhao Yuan

• School of Physical Electronics, University of Electronic
  Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, China

author

Chi Zihui

• School of Physical Electronics, University of Electronic
  Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, China

author

Zhang Nengzhu

• School of Physical Electronics, University of Electronic
  Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, China

author

Rong Jian

• School of Physical Electronics, University of Electronic
  Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, China

author

Lai Dakun

• School of Physical Electronics, University of Electronic
  Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, China

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Identifiers

DOI

10.1515/phto-2015-0002