We present an experimental ischemic stroke study using our newly-developed multimodal imaging system that integrates photoacoustic computed tomography (PACT), high-frequency ultrasound imaging, and acoustic angiographic tomography, or PAUSAT. PAUSAT is capable of three-dimensional high-frequency ultrasound imaging of the brain morphology, micro-bubble-enabled acoustic angiography of the brain blood perfusion, and multispectral PACT of brain blood oxygenation. PAUSAT was able to clearly show the brain vascular changes after ischemic stroke, including significantly reduced blood perfusion and oxygenation. Using PAUSAT, stroke infarct volume was reliably measured. The PAUSAT results were confirmed by laser speckle imaging and histology.
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