Investigating how skin type and body weight affect optoacoustic imaging

Influence of Fitzpatrick Skin Phototype and Body Mass Index on Non-invasive Optoacoustic Imaging of Muscle During Vascular Restriction and Physical Activity

University of Erlangen-Nürnberg Medical School · NCT06541496

This study is testing how different skin types and body weights affect the accuracy of a special imaging technique that looks at blood flow and oxygen in muscles, using healthy volunteers.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment130 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of Erlangen-Nürnberg Medical School (other)
Locations1 site (Munich, Bavaria)
Trial IDNCT06541496 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This observational study aims to explore the influence of Fitzpatrick skin phenotypes and body mass index on muscle perfusion and oxygenation using Multispectral Optoacoustic Tomography (MSOT). Healthy volunteers with varying skin tones and BMI will undergo leg arterial occlusion and toe raise exercises, followed by imaging scans on different body areas. The study seeks to understand how melanin content and body weight may affect the accuracy of optoacoustic imaging measurements, which could improve the technology's application in clinical settings.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are healthy adults with varying Fitzpatrick skin types and body mass indices.

Not a fit: Patients with conditions such as diabetes, renal insufficiency, or peripheral arterial disease may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could enhance the accuracy of optoacoustic imaging for assessing muscle health across diverse populations.

How similar studies have performed: While there have been studies on melanin's effect on other imaging technologies, this specific approach using MSOT is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Signed informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* Pregnancy
* diagnosed diabetes
* diagnosed renal insufficiency
* diagnosed Peripheral arterial disease
* diagnosed muscle associated disease
* tattoos in scan area
* missing consent form

Where this trial is running

Munich, Bavaria

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Healthy

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.