Over the past few decades, the novel imaging armamentarium for diagnosis has revolutionized the clinical practice worldwide.

 

 

 

 

 With continual innovations, the physicians are able to amplify the imaging applications to understand the science involved in high-impact areas of the medical field. With the advent of high-precision imaging techniques, the abnormalities can be detected in early stages before they produce any signs or symptoms. Here are the most recent advances in imaging technologies that have changed the medical industry worldwide.

 

 

1. Handheld Gamma-Ray Camera for Medical Imaging

The experts have invented a medical gamma-ray detector that produces high-resolution, multicolor 3D images. The camera weighs only 580 grams that can be fit in the palms and thus making it as the world’s most compact Compton camera.

 

In the study, the gamma-ray camera is used with tracers that include iodine, strontium, and zinc. This new technology help monitor the behavior of cancer cells and other minerals. The Compton camera has high detection efficiency and spatial resolution that enables flexible measurements within short time. 

 

2. Novel Imaging Technique Ensures Complete Removal of Tumor

The researchers discovered novel technique called photoacoustic imaging which generates accurate images of the tumor within less time when compared to the traditional imaging techniques.The detailed cellular images differentiating the cancer tissue from the healthy tissue help to reduce the need for further surgeries.

 

3. Modified NMR Technique Boosts Imaging Accuracy

Researchers developed a novel nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technique for noninvasive diagnosis of a disease using the MRI technique.With this technique the information regarding the metabolic processes of the living system can be obtained. The implications of this technique include diagnosis of a condition and deeper understanding of how does the biological processes work. For example, the traditional NMR imaging produces which part of the brain lights up in response to an emotion. And, the novel NMR technique gives the information regarding the chemicals which are involved in causing the response.

 

4. Nanodiamond Discovery Intensifies MR Imaging

A recent study uses diamonds of nanometer size as a contrast in MR imaging that opens up new avenues for possible applications. Researchers explored several uses of the nanodiamond MRI that include an accurate diagnosis of lymph node tumors for the treatment of prostate cancer and determining the permeability of blood-brain barrier that helps in the management of stroke. 

 

5. Mini X-ray sensors offer high-precision output

A team of researchers has developed nanoscale X-ray sensor using a combination of scintillation detector and optical horn antenna. In conventional X-ray imaging, the scinillator emits few photons that radiate in all directions and therefore, it is hardly detectable by the camera. In the current study, the cluster of scinillators is used for indirect X-ray detection. Experts then loaded the scinillators in the conical optical horn antenna. When the X-rays are passed, the photons scinillators are emitted through the channel of optical horn antenna into a fiber endoscope.

 

 

6. Novel PET radiotracer- A sweeter imaging breakthrough

A recent study demonstrates the use of novel positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracer called gallium-68 (Ga-68)-pentixafor accurately detects the atherosclerotic plaques within less time. This radiotracer works by binding to CXCR4 receptor on inflammatory cells located on the plaques which enables them to be identified with PET. The experts believe that this novel radiotracer would be a breakthrough that helps in detecting the atherosclerotic plaques and thus preventing heart attack and stroke.

 

7. A Unique Tool Offers Accurate Diagnosis

Photoacoustic imaging is an evolving diagnostic technique to study the disease patterns using optical absorption contrast. Researchers developed a device called Micro-ring resonator detector that can identify the oxygen metabolic rate and blood flow speed at the back of the eye. Thus, the detector helps to diagnose disorders such as macular degeneration and diabetes. It is a tiny, transparent device that fits into contact lens and helps in identifying the disorder. This optical method of ultrasound detection provides the physicians and patients with accurate diagnosis of a condition.

 

8. Imaging technique that offers drug development

Tau PET is a novel method of identifying the protein called tau in the brain using gamma camera and radioactive tracer. The function of this protein is to assist in transporting various chemicals within the nerve cells. In the patients with Alzheimer’s disease, there is an increase in the tau levels leading to its accumulation in the brain. Therefore, tau PET is considered as an accurate tool for diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease. Besides providing a novel diagnostic tool, it also paves a way for the researchers to develop new drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

 

In today’s world, the medical field has been experiencing an explosion in the imaging technology and sciences. The field of imaging technology has developed from simple radiographs to compendium of sophisticated techniques. However, the researchers continue to explore novel imaging techniques to diagnose various diseases providing the quality healthcare.

 

 

References

1. Kishimoto A, Kataoka J et al. First demonstration of multi-color 3-D in vivo imaging using ultra-compact Compton camera. Scientific Reports, 2017; 7 (1) 
2. Wong TTW, Zhang R et al. Fast label-free multilayered histology-like imaging of human breast cancer by photoacoustic microscopy. Science Advances, 2017; 3 (5): e1602168 
3. Fugariu I, Bermel W et al. In-Phase Ultra High-Resolution In Vivo NMR. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2017;
4. Waddington DEJ, Sarracaine M et al. Nanodiamond-enhanced MRI via in situ hyperpolarization. Nature Communications, 2017; 8: 15118 
5. Zhihua Xie et al. Ultracompact x-ray dosimeter based on scinillators coupled to a nano-optical antenna. Optics Letters, March 2017 
6. Hyafil F, Pelisek J et al, Imaging the Cytokine Receptor CXCR4 in Atherosclerotic Plaques with the Radiotracer 68 Ga-Pentixafor for PET. Journal of Nuclear Medicine, 2017; 58 (3): 499 DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.116.179663
7. Dong B, Sun C et al. Optical Detection of Ultrasound in Photoacoustic Imaging. IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, 2017; 64 (1): 4 
8. Orringer DA, Pandian, B. Rapid intraoperative histology of unprocessed surgical specimens via fiber-laser-based stimulated Raman scattering microscopy. Nature Biomedical Engineering. 06 Feb. 2017.
9. Smith R, Puschmann A et al. 8F-AV-1451 tau PET imaging correlates strongly with tau neuropathology in MAPT mutation carriers. Brain, 2016; 139 (9): 2372 DOI: 10.1093/brain/aww163