Microwave-induced thermoacoustic imaging of joints

Due to the complexity of joint structures and the diversity of disorders in the joints, the diagnosis of joint diseases is challenging. Current clinical diagnostic techniques for evaluating joint diseases, such as arthritis, have strengths and weaknesses. New imaging techniques need to be developed for the diagnosis or auxiliary diagnosis of arthritis. As an emerging nonintrusive low-cost imaging method, microwave-induced thermoacoustic imaging (TAI) can present tissue morphology while providing the tissue microwave energy absorption density distribution related to dielectric properties. TAI is currently in development to potentially visualize joint anatomic structures and to detect arthritis. Here, we offer a mini review to summarize the status of research on TAI of joints and present an outlook to the future development of TAI in the detection of joint diseases.