Despite tendon injury cases being on the rise globally, the lack of suitable non-invasive clinical imaging tools results in a lack of consensus for the best treatment option within the community. Here, we explore for the first time 4D multispectral optoacoustic tomography (MSOT) for non-invasive label-free evaluation of healthy human tendons, including the wrist flexors, ankle, and Achilles tendons. 3D morphology could be revealed in real-time, enabling motion tracking for the evaluation of tendon function dynamics. Furthermore, vasculature groups in and around the Achilles tendon could be visualized, and perfusion dynamics in response to localized exercise characterized. Unique in its ability to offer real-time, volumetric, label-free imaging with molecular contrast, and compounded by the method’s relatively low-cost, MSOT has been shown capable of assessing dynamic tendon morphology and haemodynamic physiology in response to controlled motion and exercise. Future studies including abnormal subjects could validate the method as a viable routine clinical tool for tendinopathy management and healing monitoring.
Access to the requested content is limited to institutions that have purchased or subscribe to SPIE eBooks.
You are receiving this notice because your organization may not have SPIE eBooks access.*
*Shibboleth/Open Athens users─please
sign in
to access your institution's subscriptions.
To obtain this item, you may purchase the complete book in print or electronic format on
SPIE.org.
INSTITUTIONAL Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.
PERSONAL Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.