New 3D Color Imaging Joins Ultrasound and Photoacoustics to See Inside the Body

Caltech and USC researchers have developed RUS-PAT, a hybrid rotational ultrasound and photoacoustic tomography system that produces fast, three-dimensional color images showing both tissue structure and blood-vessel function. Demonstrations across multiple body regions suggest wide medical potential, including enhanced breast tumor imaging, monitoring nerve damage from diabetes, and concurrent brain structure and blood flow visualization. The technique reaches about 4 cm depth and can complete a scan in under a minute, with ongoing translational development for clinical use.