Laser-based Photoacoustic Tomography of Human Inflammatory Arthritis
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Laser Based Photoacoustic Tomography, MRI, Ultrasound, laser based photoacoustic tomography, MRI, ultrasound.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Arthritis, Rheumatoid. Basic parameters: from 18 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- United States
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Overview
The purpose of this feasibility study is to determine if a new emerging technology called photoacoustic tomography (PAT) can be adapted for use in humans for the detection of chronic rheumatoid arthritis.
Detailed description
The objective of this proposal is to adapt photoacoustic tomography (PAT), a novel, nonionizing, noninvasive, laser-based technology, for structural and functional imaging of human peripheral joints affected by inflammatory arthritis.
Combining the advantages of both light and ultrasound scanning, PAT holds promise to present objective optical information in subsurface joint tissues with high sensitivity and high spatial resolution.
This could be of considerable help in the early detection of inflammatory joint diseases. PAT may also prove useful in further understanding the pathophysiology of these disorders and assisting with therapeutic decisions, including assessment of new pharmacological therapies.
In January 2026, the decision was made to reopen recruitment for this study to collect additional data to support future clinical trial work and funding.
Interventions
- Procedure Laser Based Photoacoustic Tomography, MRI, Ultrasound
Healthy subjects will have scans on finger joints with any of the scanning methods described above. - Procedure laser based photoacoustic tomography, MRI, ultrasound
Subjects with arthritis will have scans on finger joints with any of the scanning methods described above.
Primary outcome measures
- Photoacoustic Imaging [Time frame: 10 weeks]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Men and women 18 years of age or older can participate in this study.
- Patients can participate in this study if they have had rheumatoid arthritis for more than 2 years and their rheumatologist has referred them to this study.
- Patients can participate as a healthy volunteer with a known history of rheumatoid arthritis.
Exclusion criteria
- Patients, who have electrically, magnetically or mechanically activated implants such as heart pacemaker, magnetic surgical clips, prostheses or implanted neurological stimulator.
- Pregnant patients.
- Patients who is claustrophobic.
- Patients with impaired renal function cannot participate in this study such as elevate creatinine clearance, patients on kidney dialysis etc.
- Patients with shock hypotension or unstable low blood pressure.
- Patients with Rhabdomyolysis.
- Patients who have had a contrast enhanced (with gadolinium) MRA (magnetic resonance angiography)/ or MRI within the last 3 months. (Contrast is a medication injected into a vein during a imaging examination that helps produce clearer images/pictures).
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: Yes
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
Study locations
United States · 1 center
- Universtity of Michigan Health System — Ann Arbor
Identifiers
NCT: NCT00748254 · HUM00003693 · R01AR060350