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Photoacoustic imaging of valves in superficial veins
Author(s) -
Kolkman Roy G.M.,
Bosschaart Nienke,
Kok Ben,
van Leeuwen Ton G.,
Steenbergen Wiendelt
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
lasers in surgery and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1096-9101
pISSN - 0196-8092
DOI - 10.1002/lsm.20390
Subject(s) - venous valves , palpation , medicine , photoacoustic imaging in biomedicine , lumen (anatomy) , vein , radiology , dorsum , biomedical engineering , anatomy , surgery , physics , optics
Background and Objectives In intravenous access to veins there is a risk of puncturing venous valves or blocking of the catheter by the valves. Therefore, we have investigated whether and how photoacoustic imaging (PAI), which visualizes the lumen of blood vessels, can be used to detect these valves. Study Design/Materials and Methods Venous valves in superficial veins on the dorsal side of the hand of human volunteers were located by palpation and visual inspection. Next, this location was imaged using PAI. Results In 16 of 21 human volunteers venous valves that were found by palpation could be observed by PAI as local discontinuities in the imaged vessel. From these images, four characteristic features by which venous valves can be recognized in photoacoustic images were identified. Conclusions PAI has the potential to be applied in the detection of venous valves. Lasers Surg. Med. 38:740–744, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.