Healthy red blood cells look like a middle concave scones, if red blood cells produce disease, its appearance will change, for example by the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, red blood cells will swell. Therefore, if the state can quickly detect red blood cells, and many vascular diseases and certain types of cancer diagnosis time can be significantly reduced, and this technology is already developed.
A drop of blood on the known pathogens
In the latest one, "Biophysical Journal" ( Biophysical Journal ), the Canadian多伦多莱尔森University (Ryerson University) published using the principle of photoacoustic imaging to obtain detailed images of red blood cells. They will be placed in a drop of blood samples using the photoacoustic imaging principle of making out under the microscope, red blood cells within a few seconds for them to obtain image data, regardless of the size or shape of the red blood cells so that they get the information than in the past to fine, or even just use 21 red blood cells will be able to get enough results.
left is the research team designed a microscope; the figure is photographed most of them flat, and the only one erected (arrows) up red blood cells; right is simple diagrams, illustrations laser pulses emitted from below, through the the middle of the red blood cell sample, the sample results are at the top of the volatility of the sensor reception. (Photo Credit: Ryerson University)
In the past, photoacoustic imaging studies only with a frequency below 100MHz, because the sensor can withstand higher frequencies, but the low frequency effect is not good, the researcher can only see a little bit cells exist. Laier Sen University team is clearly exceeded this limit, they use the 100 to 500MHz, see more detailed images of red blood cells.
Team and said that, in addition to red blood cells, in fact micron particles they can also be detected using frequencies above 100MHz can show spectral characteristics of these particles.
Current research team still only observed on the slide, and can not directly observe the human body, mainly because of the uncertainty of moving waves. In terms of maternal ultrasound, for example, doctors are using low-frequency sound waves to obtain images with high-frequency sound waves reach the fetus if it will soon dispersed after, and was absorbed the surrounding tissue, and likewise, the team applied the current study to the human body, are faced with the same problem.
Widely used technology
This technology has a variety of applications. Stage can be immediately applied in hospitals and blood banks, to confirm the quality of stored blood. Services at Canadian Blood Center Jason Acker said: "From the outset of blood products will gradually begin corrupt, shelf life up to 42 days", but in fact the quality of blood for spare no exact Assessment Act, "If there are tools to detect, Blood products are also used to obtain information that would be a good thing. " In fact research team has been discussed with the Centre, the technology applied to the blood bank blood testing, specific approaches.
Another application of this technique is to identify such as melanoma and other tumor cells.Biochemical Engineering, University of Washington scientist Lihong Wang said that the use of this technology to identify tumor cells faster than many existing methods. Since different cells absorb different wavelengths of light, the device can simply adjust the wavelength of the different test cells.
Their research on the medical profession, there is another contribution to that future testing equipment can also be transformed into a smaller handheld devices. If you've seen some of the sci-fi movie or album, such as "Star Trek" (Star Trek), doctors hands, three loggers (Tricoder), perhaps their study is 200 years after the three loggers prototype .
"Star Trek" TR-590 Tricoder X (Photo Credit: Memory Alpha)
For photoacoustic imaging
Photoacoustic imaging (photoacoustic imaging) can be said that the next generation of ultrasound imaging technology, but the principle is actually somewhat different. We saw at the hospital ultrasound images similar principle sonar, first issued ultrasound machine, hit the body organs and tissues reflection, and then through the machine received and converted into an image.
Photoacoustic imaging emits a pulsed laser irradiation to the body tissue will absorb the laser light to generate heat and manufacture of thermal expansion, thermal expansion of the fluctuations will be receiving ultrasonic detection equipment, and then produce images.Since different tissues absorb different types of light sources, reflected in the volatility will be different, so the image will be able to distinguish between the various organizations and whether the produce lesions.
captured using photoacoustic imaging melanoma (shown in white) image, the red part is blood vessels. This figure motion pictures here . (Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons)
▲ (Opening Photo Credit: Scientific American)
Relevant information
