Laser-based Photoacoustic Tomography of Human Inflammatory Arthritis

January 22, 2026 updated by: Xueding Wang, University of Michigan
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.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

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.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

113

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Michigan
      • Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States, 48109
        • Recruiting
        • Universtity of Michigan Health System
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Xueding Wang, PHD

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 56 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Subjects are 1) people who are either healthy volunteers or have patients who have rheumatoid arthritis for more than 2 years and who have a rheumatologist who referred them to this study.

Description

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).

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: Cohort
  • Time Perspectives: Prospective

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Patients who have active disease affecting the joints in the hand will have Laser Based Photoacoustic Tomography (PAT), MRI, Ultrasound
Procedure: Laser Based Photoacoustic Tomography, MRI, Ultrasound
Healthy subjects will have scans on finger joints with any of the scanning methods described above.
Other Names:
  • MRI,magnetic resonance imaging
  • US, ultrasound
  • PAT, laser based photoacoustic tomography
Normal controls
Healthy volunteers who do not have arthritis will also have Laser Based Photoacoustic Tomography (PAT), MRI, Ultrasound on the joints of their hand
Procedure: laser based photoacoustic tomography, MRI, ultrasound
Subjects with arthritis will have scans on finger joints with any of the scanning methods described above.
Other Names:
  • MRI
  • Ultrasound
  • laser based photoacoustic tomography

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Photoacoustic Imaging
Time Frame: 10 weeks
To determine if photoacoustic imaging (PAT) can accurately assist in the diagnosis of chronic rheumatoid arthritis, with data collected every 2 weeks for a maximum of 10 weeks.
10 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University of Michigan

Collaborators

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Xueding Wang, Ph.D, University of Michigan

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

December 1, 2011

Primary Completion (Estimated)

January 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

January 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 4, 2008

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 4, 2008

First Posted (Estimated)

September 8, 2008

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

January 23, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 22, 2026

Last Verified

January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • HUM00003693
  • R01AR060350 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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