Methods and compositions for carrier agents and clearing agents used in optoacoustic imaging systems

摘要

A method for optoacoustic imaging of a tissue mass after treating the skin overlying a portion of a tissue being imaged to improve optical clarity is presented. In an embodiment, the method involves optoacoustic imaging after first applying a carrier agent such as hyaluronic acid to the skin surface and applying a clearing agent to the skin. A method of temporarily reducing optical scattering (opacity) of skin for diagnostic purposes is also presented. In an embodiment, the method involves applying a liquid comprising at least one of: polyethylene glycol and polypropylene glycol, to the skin, the skin having been pretreated with hyaluronic acid.

主权项

1. A two-stage method for optoacoustic imaging of tissue in vivo, the method comprising the steps of:
topically applying a penetration-facilitating carrier agent comprising hyaluronic acid or a hyaluronic acid salt to skin overlying a surface of at least a portion of the tissue; after a time period of 30 to 90 minutes has elapsed after the topically applying the penetration-facilitating carrier agent, such that the penetration-facilitating carrier agent has penetrated the epidermis of the skin, topically applying a clearing agent comprising a mixture of polyethylene glycol and polypropylene glycol to the skin overlying the surface of the at least a portion of the tissue, wherein the penetration-facilitating carrier facilitates penetration of the clearing agent into the tissue and the clearing agent renders the skin more transparent to light relative to when no clearing agent is applied; imaging the tissue using optoacoustic imaging techniques, the optoacoustic imaging techniques comprising the steps of:
irradiating the tissue with a laser pulse, causing heating and expansion of the tissue;receiving ultrasound using an array of ultrasonic transducers;analyzing information received by the array of ultrasonic transducers during a period following the laser pulse; and,constructing an image.