Quantitative photoacoustics for transcranial monitoring of human brain function

• Applicant: Dr. Thomas Kirchner
• Subject Area: Medical Physics, Biomedical Technology
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 471755457

The primary goal of this project is the development of a non-invasive photoacoustic (PA) monitoring method for blood oxygen saturation in the human brain through the intact skull. Photoacoustics is a technique increasingly used in preclinical research as well as some early clinical trials. Photoacoustics uses short light pulses to excite optical absorbers such as blood to emit sound waves. These sound waves can then be measured with ultrasonic sensors. Photoacoustics enables high-resolution measurements of optical absorption at a depth of several centimeters and is primarily used as an imaging modality. Transcranial PA imaging in humans has so far proved challenging to implement. However, transcranial Photoacoustics as a technique not for imaging but local monitoring has, so far, barely been studied. In the proposed project, we would like to investigate and develop instrumentation and algorithms to investigate the feasibility of transcranial PA monitoring of blood oxygen saturation. We are especially interested in the accurate quantitative measurement of physiological blood oxygen saturation in the human brain and will develop a prototype for real-time transcranial PA monitoring for potential functional studies on the human brain.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants