林曉均 副教授     廖倫德 研究員

Optoacoustic tomography (OAT) is an emerging biomedical imaging modality that combines the high optical contrast of light with the spatial resolution and penetration depth of ultrasound. As a non-invasive, non-ionizing, and label-free technique, OAT enables real-time volumetric imaging of vascular structures and hemodynamic dynamics. By acquiring multi-wavelength optoacoustic data, functional and molecular information, such as blood oxygen saturation and tissue composition, can be quantified, making OAT a promising tool for applications in cardiovascular, metabolic, and musculoskeletal disease diagnosis and monitoring.

Despite these advantages, the quantitative accuracy of OAT remains limited by the instability of spectral unmixing. Variations in tissue anatomy and optical properties among individuals result in wavelength-dependent light attenuation (spectral colouring), while acoustic heterogeneity further degrades image quality. These factors introduce errors into spectral unmixing, reducing the reliability of functional parameter estimation and limiting clinical translation.