Real-Time in vivo Imaging of Human Lymphatic System Using an LED-Based Photoacoustic/Ultrasound Imaging System

Non-invasive in vivo imaging of lymphatic system is of paramount importance for analyzing the functions of lymphatic vessels, and for investigating their contribution to metastasis. Recently, we reported on the development of a multi-wavelength real-time LED-based photoacoustic/ultrasound system (AcousticX). In this work, for the first time, we demonstrate that AcousticX is capable of real-time imaging of human lymphatic system. Results demonstrate the capability of our system in imaging vascular and lymphatic system simultaneously, which in turn could potentially provide detailed information regarding the interconnected roles of lymphatic and vascular system in diseases and foster the growth of therapeutic interventions.