Sonoluminescence imaging and its biomedical applications

Sonoluminescence (SL) images of living bodies were obtained by a luminescence enhancement method with a high-sensitive back-illuminated CCD system. We found that the rare-gas-contained (prepared) PBS or some nonpoisonous chemiluminescent analytic agent could enhance the SL by chemiluminescence through a reaction with free radicals, and can use for in vivo experiments. Based on ultrasound could sensitize HpD to produce the oxygen free radicals, a novel method for early-stage cancer diagnosis named as Sono-Dynamic Dignosis was proposed. By use of sonosensitization to produce tumor-selective oxygen radicals, a clear diagnostic image of FCLA (Fluoresceinyl Cypridina Luminescent Analog)-enhanced sono-pumped chemluminescence from tumor region is obtained. Finely, a confocal scanning technique was developed for the sonoluminescence tomography imaging for the first time. The spatial resolution was largely improved to about 100 micro with the ultrasonic intensity less than the safety limit of FDA. With the components-labeling and confocal techniques, the SL imaging method has potential applications in clinical diagnosis.