Quantitative measurements of intestinal fibrosis using endoscopic photoacoustic imaging

Distinguishing between acute and chronic intestinal obstruction is essential for the treatment of Crohn's disease (CD). We have demonstrated the capability of spectroscopy photoacoustic (PA) imaging in quantifying hemoglobin and collagen changes. We also developed strain-PA imaging as a novel method for quantifying the intestinal stiffness, which is a mechanical marker of CD. In this study, we combined the spectroscopy and stiffness measurements using a catheter probe and examined the proposed approach in a rabbit model of CD in vivo. The quantitative accuracy of the imaging was validated by histology and micro-elastometry.