Optical imaging of central and peripheral microcirculation and determination of appropriate diagnostic perfusion parameters
To assess adequate organ perfusion in complex clinical conditions, such as sepsis, the evaluation of macroscopic hemodynamics is often insufficient. The examination of microcirculation in various regions of the body and the identification of diagnostically relevant parameters allow for a more nuanced assessment of the patient’s current condition and may, in the future, serve as predictors for monitoring and guiding therapy.
State of Research/Preliminary Work
Research into microcirculation is currently the subject of intensive study in many disciplines (Guerraty et al., 2021; Massey & Shapiro, 2015). Innovative imaging techniques such as Incident Dark Field (IDF) imaging, near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) now enable high-resolution, non-invasive, and in some cases continuous measurement of microvascular parameters directly at the patient’s bedside (Aykut et al., 2015; Smith et al., 2019; Wan et al., 2021). However, there is a lack of standardized measurement protocols for objectively defining the measurement parameters and automated algorithms for reliably quantifying parameters such as total and perfused vascular density, the microvascular flow index, or the heterogeneity index (Aksu et al., 2024). Core research areas focus on improving image quality, developing multimodal measurement approaches, and identifying new functional parameters such as endothelial reactivity. Microcirculation diagnostics thus offer a sensitive means of detecting pathophysiological changes at an early stage, predicting disease progression, and objectively monitoring and supporting therapeutic interventions.
In our own preliminary work, we developed a multimodal imaging system that enables time-resolved 2D video microscopy and 3D OCT angiography of an area approximately 4 x 4 mm². In combination with four force sensors, microcirculation and its response to an occlusion test can be comprehensively examined under standardized conditions.
Contact
© Julia Walther, KSM
Mr Dr. rer. medic. Christian Schnabel
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Clinical Sensoring and Monitoring
Clinical Sensoring and Monitoring
Visiting address:
Medizinisch-Theoretisches Zentrum (MTZ - Haus 91) Fiedlerstraße 42
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