Quantitative photoacoustic tomography of blood oxygenation enhanced by Monte Carlo modeling

L Linghui Gong (Key Laboratory of OptoElectronic Science and Technology for Medicine of Ministry of Education, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Photonics Technology and College of Photonic and Electronic Engineering, Fujian Normal University 1 , Fuzhou 350000,) C Chao Cai H Hai Lin (School of Advanced Materials) Y Yidan Zhang Z Zhaoyu Wang (Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Tianjin Key Lab for Rare Earth Materials and Applications, Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center (RECAST), School of Materials Science and Engineering, National Institute for Advanced Materials) Z Zequan Xu (Key Laboratory of OptoElectronic Science and Technology for Medicine of Ministry of Education, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Photonics Technology and College of Photonic and Electronic Engineering, Fujian Normal University 1 , Fuzhou 350000,) Y Yubin Liu

Abstract

We present a Monte Carlo-enhanced photoacoustic tomography (MC-PAT) system for quantitative three-dimensional mapping of tissue optical properties and blood oxygenation. Combining Monte Carlo light transport with finite-element acoustic inversion, the system achieved accurate absorption coefficient quantification (0.44 ± 0.02 mm−1, 1.85% deviation) and high spatial resolution (250 μm). In vivo pilot studies (n = 3) demonstrated reliable measurements (0.42 ± 0.02 mm−1, 2.78% deviation) and clear arteriovenous differentiation (arterial: 97.8 ± 0.8% sO2; venous: 74.5 ± 1.3% sO2) with 0.8% error vs pulse oximetry. MC-PAT shows potential for functional vascular studies and future clinical translation.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 127, Issue 15
Published October 13, 2025
ISSN 0003-6951
Publisher American Institute of Physics

Journal Info

Applied Physics Letters

American Institute of Physics

ISSN: 0003-6951 Physical Sciences

Authors (7)

L

Linghui Gong

Key Laboratory of OptoElectronic Science and Technology for Medicine of Ministry of Education, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Photonics Technology and College of Photonic and Electronic Engineering, Fujian Normal University 1 , Fuzhou 350000,

C

Chao Cai

H

Hai Lin

School of Advanced Materials

Y

Yidan Zhang

Z

Zhaoyu Wang

Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Tianjin Key Lab for Rare Earth Materials and Applications, Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center (RECAST), School of Materials Science and Engineering, National Institute for Advanced Materials

Z

Zequan Xu

Key Laboratory of OptoElectronic Science and Technology for Medicine of Ministry of Education, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Photonics Technology and College of Photonic and Electronic Engineering, Fujian Normal University 1 , Fuzhou 350000,

Y

Yubin Liu