Various causes can lead to methemoglobinemia, and it has the potential to be confused with other diseases. In vivo measurements of methemoglobin have significant applications in the clinics. We quantified the average and the distributed percentage of methemoglobin both in vitro and in vivo using photoacoustic microscopy (PAM). Based on the absorption spectra of methemoglobin, oxyhemoglobin, and deoxyhemoglobin, three wavelengths were chosen to differentiate methemoglobin from the others. We imaged the methemoglobin percentage in microtubes that mimicked blood vessels as a phantom experiment. The methemoglobin concentrations calculated from the photoacoustic signals were in accordance with the preset concentrations. We also demonstrated the ability of PAM to quantitatively image methemoglobin distribution in vivo in a mouse ear.

Date Published: 11 March 2015
PDF: 4 pages
Proc. SPIE 9323, Photons Plus Ultrasound: Imaging and Sensing 2015, 93233K (11 March 2015); doi: 10.1117/12.2076692

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 9323:
Photons Plus Ultrasound: Imaging and Sensing 2015
Alexander A. Oraevsky; Lihong V. Wang, Editor(s)