Technological Overview
Dynamic blood flow information within the XyCAM’s or VasoVUE’s field of view is obtained via Laser Speckle Contrast Imaging (LSCI). LSCI relies on the formation of interference patterns (called speckle patterns) in the image when any tissue is illuminated with coherent light such as a laser. Any motion in the field of view (such as blood flow) causes a blurring effect in the speckle pattern of the captured image over the camera’s exposure time. The rate of blood motion at any location can thus be estimated by analyzing the extent of blurring at that location, which can be achieved by computing the contrast in the captured intensity values vis-à-vis the location’s neighborhood. Thus intensity values in the captured sequence of images are processed to obtain blood flow velocity indices (BFVi) that are often depicted in pseudo-color for effective visualization. LSCI is implemented at a rapid rate to provide high resolution blood flow data.
Is LSCI similar to OCT-A?
It is different. LSCI provides complementary dynamic blood flow information.
Fundus imaging, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (SLO) obtain structural data.
Angiography adds crucial perfusion status information to structural data, for more clinical insights. Fluorescein/ICG angiography enables assessment of perfusion and leakage via dye injection.
OCT angiography (OCT-A) helps noninvasively:
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visualize perfusion status in the posterior segment,
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quantify the density of perfused vasculature, and
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determine unperfused or avascular areas.
Laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) technology complements clinical imaging modalities with a direct visualization of pulsatile blood flow dynamics with high spatial and temporal resolution. It is possible to analyze the blood flow time sequence from specific vessels and regions for dynamic metrics such as dip and peak blood flow velocity index, fractional time-to-rise, volumetric skew, and pulsatile index that characterize ocular blood flow patterns.
