NCT00748254

Laser-based Photoacoustic Tomography of Human Inflammatory Arthritis

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: —
• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 113 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of Michigan · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

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.

Conditions

• Arthritis, Rheumatoid

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
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.

Timeline

• Start date: 2011-12-01
• Primary completion: 2027-01-01
• Completion: 2027-01-01
• First posted: 2008-09-08
• Last updated: 2026-01-23

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States