Photoacoustic Imaging for Image-Guided Gastric Tube Placement: Ex Vivo Characterization
Recommended Citation
John S, Yuja Vaquiz Y, Nyayapathi N, Kabbani L, Nilam A, Lovell JF, Wilson NA, Yan Y, and Mehrmohammadi M. Photoacoustic Imaging for Image-Guided Gastric Tube Placement: Ex Vivo Characterization. Sensors (Basel) 2025; 25(5).
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-5-2025
Publication Title
Sensors (Basel)
Abstract
Over 250,000 gastrostomy tubes (G-tubes) are placed annually in the United States. Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is the most widely used clinical method for placing G-tubes within the stomach. However, endoscope detectability is limited due to the scattering of light by tissues. Poor organ visibility and low sensitivity of the palpation techniques cause blind needle insertions, which cause colon/liver perforations, abdominal bleeding, and gastric resections. Additionally, imaging artifacts and the poor distinguishability between water-filled tissues make ultrasound (US) imaging-based techniques incompatible with G-tube placement. The risk of ionizing radiation exposure and the confinement of fluoroscopy to radiology suites limits its bedside utility in patients. Considering these limitations, we propose to design a safe, point-of-care integrated US and photoacoustic (PA) imaging system for accurate G-tube placement procedures, for a broad spectrum of patients, and to characterize the system's effectiveness. Our proposed technology utilizes a clinically safe contrast agent and a dual-wavelength approach for precise procedures. Our ex vivo tissue studies indicated that PA imaging accurately differentiates the different organs at specific wavelengths. Our characterization studies revealed that PA imaging could detect lower concentrations of Indocyanine Green (ICG) dye coating the colon wall, minimizing the risk of ICG dye-related toxicity and providing safer G-tube placements.
Medical Subject Headings
Photoacoustic Techniques; Humans; Indocyanine Green; Gastrostomy; Stomach; Animals; Contrast Media; Ultrasonography
PubMed ID
40096492
Volume
25
Issue
5