Influence of tissue movements on laser Doppler perfusion imaging

摘要

The microvascular perfusion can be measured using laser Doppler blood flowmetry (LDF), a technique sensitive to the concentration of moving blood cells and their velocity. However, movements of the tissue itself can cause artifacts in the perfusion readings. In a clinical situation, these movement induced artifacts may arise from patient movements or from movements of internal organs e.g. the intestines or the beating heart. Therefore, we have studied how a well-controlled tissue movement affects the LDF signals during different flow conditions and for different surface structures. Tissue perfusion was recorded non-touch in one point using a laser Doppler perfusion imager. During the measurements the object was placed on a shaker that generated the movement (both horizontal and vertical). Measurements were carried out both on DELRIN ~(~R) (polyacetal plastic) and the fingertip, for a wide range of velocities (0-3 cm/s). The influence of the microvascular perfusion was evaluated by occluding the brachial artery as well as blood emptying the finger and by using a flow model. The LDF signals were correlated to the movement. In vivo measurements showed that velocities above 0.8 cm/s gave a significant contribution to the perfusion signal. Corresponding velocities for the DELRIN~(~R) piece were higher (1.4 ― 2.6 cm/s), and dependent on the surface structures and reflecting properties. By reducing the amount of specular reflection the movement influence was substantially lowered.