1
|
Freymüller C, Ströbl S, Aumiller M, Eisel M, Sroka R, Rühm A. Development of a microstructured tissue phantom with adaptable optical properties for use with microscopes and fluorescence lifetime imaging systems. Lasers Surg Med 2022; 54:1010-1026. [PMID: 35753039 DOI: 10.1002/lsm.23556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES For the development and validation of diagnostic procedures based on microscopic methods, knowledge about the imaging depth and achievable resolution in tissue is crucial. This poses the challenge to develop a microscopic artificial phantom focused on the microscopic instead of the macroscopic optical tissue characteristics. METHODS As existing artificial tissue phantoms designed for image forming systems are primarily targeted at wide field applications, they are unsuited for reaching the formulated objective. Therefore, a microscopy- and microendoscopy-suited artificial tissue phantom was developed and characterized. It is based on a microstructured glass surface coated with fluorescent beads at known depths covered by a scattering agent with modifiable optical properties. The phantom was examined with different kinds of microscopy systems in order to characterize its quality and stability and to demonstrate its usefulness for instrument comparison, for example, regarding structural as well as fluorescence lifetime analysis. RESULTS The analysis of the manufactured microstructured glass surfaces showed high regularity in their physical dimensions in accordance with the specifications. Measurements of the optical parameters of the scattering medium were consistent with simulations. The fluorescent beads coating proved to be stable for a respectable period of time (about a week). The developed artificial tissue phantom was successfully used to detect differences in image quality between a research microscope and an endoscopy based system. Plausible causes for the observed differences could be derived based on the well known microstructure of the phantom. CONCLUSIONS The artificial tissue phantom is well suited for the intended use with microscopic and microendoscopic systems. Due to its configurable design, it can be adapted to a wide range of applications. It is especially targeted at the characterization and calibration of clinical imaging systems that often lack extensive positioning capabilities such as an intrinsic z-stage.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christian Freymüller
- Laser-Forschungslabor, LIFE Center, Department of Urology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Department of Urology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Stephan Ströbl
- Laser-Forschungslabor, LIFE Center, Department of Urology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Department of Urology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Research Center for Microtechnology, FH Vorarlberg, Dornbirn, Vorarlberg, Austria
| | - Maximilian Aumiller
- Laser-Forschungslabor, LIFE Center, Department of Urology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Department of Urology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Maximilian Eisel
- Laser-Forschungslabor, LIFE Center, Department of Urology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Department of Urology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Ronald Sroka
- Laser-Forschungslabor, LIFE Center, Department of Urology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Department of Urology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Adrian Rühm
- Laser-Forschungslabor, LIFE Center, Department of Urology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Department of Urology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Hacker L, Wabnitz H, Pifferi A, Pfefer TJ, Pogue BW, Bohndiek SE. Criteria for the design of tissue-mimicking phantoms for the standardization of biophotonic instrumentation. Nat Biomed Eng 2022; 6:541-558. [PMID: 35624150 DOI: 10.1038/s41551-022-00890-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
A lack of accepted standards and standardized phantoms suitable for the technical validation of biophotonic instrumentation hinders the reliability and reproducibility of its experimental outputs. In this Perspective, we discuss general criteria for the design of tissue-mimicking biophotonic phantoms, and use these criteria and state-of-the-art developments to critically review the literature on phantom materials and on the fabrication of phantoms. By focusing on representative examples of standardization in diffuse optical imaging and spectroscopy, fluorescence-guided surgery and photoacoustic imaging, we identify unmet needs in the development of phantoms and a set of criteria (leveraging characterization, collaboration, communication and commitment) for the standardization of biophotonic instrumentation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lina Hacker
- Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.,Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Heidrun Wabnitz
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Berlin, Germany
| | | | | | - Brian W Pogue
- Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Sarah E Bohndiek
- Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. .,Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Pinkert MA, Hall TJ, Eliceiri KW. Challenges of conducting quantitative ultrasound with a multimodal optical imaging system. Phys Med Biol 2021; 66:035008. [PMID: 33171448 PMCID: PMC8349544 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/abc93c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
High-frequency quantitative ultrasound is a potential non-invasive source of imaging cell-tissue scale biomarkers for major diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and preterm birth. However, one of the barriers to developing such biomarkers is that it is labor-intensive to compare quantitative ultrasound images to optical images of the tissue structure. We have previously developed a multiscale imaging system that can obtain registered qualitative ultrasound and optical images, but there are further technical challenges to obtaining quantitative data: System-specific details of obtaining and processing data with Verasonics high-frequency transducers; the need for high-frequency reference phantoms; and off-axis clutter from imaging above a glass coverslip. This paper provides a characterization of the Verasonics ultrasound system with the 18.5 MHz L22-14v and 28.5 MHz L38-22v transducers, describes the construction of high-frequency reference phantoms, and details methods for reducing off-axis clutter. The paper features a demonstration multiscale image of a wild type mouse mammary gland that incorporates quantitative ultrasound with both transducers and second harmonic generation microscopy. These advances demonstrate a way to obtain, on a single system with a cohesive and integrated pipeline, quantitative ultrasound data that is correlated with optical imaging without the need for extensive sample preparation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Pinkert
- Morgridge Institute for Research, 330 N Orchard St, Madison, WI 53715, United States of America
- University of Wisconsin Madison, Laboratory for Optical and Computational Instrumentation, 1675 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI 53706, United States of America
- University of Wisconsin Madison, Department of Medical Physics, 1111 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53705, United States of America
| | - Timothy J Hall
- University of Wisconsin Madison, Department of Medical Physics, 1111 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53705, United States of America
| | - Kevin W Eliceiri
- Morgridge Institute for Research, 330 N Orchard St, Madison, WI 53715, United States of America
- University of Wisconsin Madison, Laboratory for Optical and Computational Instrumentation, 1675 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI 53706, United States of America
- University of Wisconsin Madison, Department of Medical Physics, 1111 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53705, United States of America
- University of Wisconsin Madison, Department of Biomedical Engineering, 1550 Engineering Dr, Madison, WI 53706, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|