Multispectral Optoacoustic Tomography
Molecular imaging that unites the contrast of light with the depth of ultrasound - in real time, at the bedside. MSOT - Multispectral Optoacoustic Tomography - reveals functional and molecular information that conventional ultrasound cannot see.
Real MSOT imaging from scientific groups - molecular & anatomical contrast
The technology
Light in, sound out - molecular imaging in real time!
It reads the functional and molecular state of tissue and molecules, adding information that lies beyond ultrasound’s anatomical contrast.
MSOT - Multispectral Optoacoustic Tomography - makes tissue reveal its own biology. Short laser pulses at many wavelengths are absorbed by molecules in the body; each tiny, harmless absorption generates an ultrasound wave that MSOT detects and reconstructs into an image. The result combines the molecular contrast of light with the depth and resolution of ultrasound - in real time, at the bedside, with no ionizing radiation and no need for a contrast agent.
Where it comes from
MSOT's scientific foundations were laid at Helmholtz Munich, in the pioneering optoacoustic work of Vasilis Ntziachristos and Daniel Razansky, and were translated into advanced imaging systems by iThera Medical. iTheraNEXT carries the technology forward into the clinic for the benefit of researchers, clinicians and patients.
Unique specificity
Because different molecules absorb light differently, MSOT separates them by their spectral signature. From a single, label-free scan it can distinguish oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin - and with them tissue oxygenation and vascular function - alongside lipid, water, melanin and collagen. A functional, molecular read-out that ultrasound, X-ray, MRI or PET cannot provide in the same way.
Clinical research & trials
MSOT has been used in a large and growing body of peer-reviewed clinical research worldwide, spanning many indications and patient studies - across inflammation, oncology, vascular and metabolic diseases and investigations. It adds functional and molecular information at the point of care, without radiation or contrast burden.
Application examples from Science
The following beautiful images are examples from peer-reviewed publications reporting the use of MSOT in scientific research.
MSOT resolves label-free molecular contrast - mapping oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO₂, red), deoxygenated hemoglobin (HbR, blue), and lipid (green) from tissue absorption alone - at high spatial resolution that grayscale ultrasound cannot provide, revealing functional and vascular detail well beyond the tumor boundary (dashed contour) and into tumor-invaded tissue.
Kukačka J, et al. Photoacoustics. 2022;26:100343. See full reference and license
MSOT resolves oxygenated (HbO₂, red) and deoxygenated (HbR, blue) hemoglobin at high resolution and overlays them on co-registered ultrasound, giving label-free molecular and functional vascular contrast that grayscale ultrasound alone cannot show. The dashed line marks the ultrasound-segmented lymph node boundary.
Vonk J, et al. Photoacoustics. 2022;26:100362. See full reference and license
MSOT resolves label-free molecular contrast - mapping oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO₂, magenta) from tissue absorption alone - at high spatial resolution, revealing a feeding vessel and dense intranodular microvascularity within a thyroid nodule (dashed contour = ultrasound-segmented nodule boundary) that grayscale ultrasound cannot depict.
Noltes ME, et al. European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging. 2023;50:2736-2750. See full reference and license
MSOT resolves label-free molecular contrast - here oxygenated (HbO₂) and deoxygenated (HbR) hemoglobin, unmixed from optical absorption alone - at a spatial resolution grayscale ultrasound cannot provide, revealing functional, hemoglobin-rich vascular detail deep within the breast lesion (dashed).
Dehner C, et al. IEEE Transactions on Medical Imaging. 2022;41(11):3182-3193. Cropped from Fig. 5e; panel label, tumor outline, marker arrows, and scale bar removed. See full reference and license
MSOT adds label-free molecular and functional contrast to conventional ultrasound: from tissue absorption alone it maps oxygenated (red) and deoxygenated (blue) hemoglobin at high spatial resolution, revealing intraneural vessels running inside a superficial ulnar nerve that are not visible in the grayscale ultrasound alone. The white box marks the imaged nerve region.
Jüstel D, et al. Advanced Science. 2023;10:2301322. Cropped from Fig. 3B; edits removed. See full reference and license
Our mission
We are committed to advancing MSOT - from a cutting-edge technology to a dependable, everyday tool in the clinic - and to putting the MSOT technology into the hands of researchers and research-active clinicians who will shape the future of medical imaging.
MSOT reveals the body's own biology - tissue oxygenation, vascular function and molecular composition - in real time, at the bedside, and without ionizing radiation or contrast agents, so that molecular information becomes part of a routine exam. Together with that community, we want to uncover the many applications where this molecular insight can make a real difference for patients.
We enable researchers and clinicians to identify, validate, and scale the clinical indications where MSOT delivers a unique value.
Who we are
iTheraNEXT brings together a focused team with deep, field-proven experience across optoacoustic science, software and systems, production, quality and regulatory affairs, and startup leadership. Together, we have the breadth to carry MSOT all the way from technology to a certified clinical product, with the depth in every discipline to get there.
We are bringing this to life because we believe MSOT belongs in the hands of experts and clinicians, to see inside the tissue with molecular detail.
Legacy support
Existing users of advanced MSOT devices matter to us. If you would like to move forward towards clinical applications, please contact us to see how we can support you - as far as reasonably possible, and on a case-by-case basis. This applies, for example, to legacy Acuity Echo CE systems from iThera Medical.
Contact us and stay in the loop
Researchers and clinicians: register to hear about availability, product milestones and news. No spam, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Contact
The NEXT imaging revolution in point-of-care medicine
iTheraNEXT Imaging GmbH is based near Munich, continuing the development and support of Multispectral Optoacoustic Tomography for clinical use.
For press or partnership enquiries, please use the email above and we will route your message to the right person.
