Non-invasive laser speckle contrast imaging expected to serve as a useful tool
Wausau, WI (August 28, 2017) – A recent study published in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine (LSM), the official journal of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, Inc. (ASLMS), was conducted to evaluate limb ischemia in peripheral arterial disease patients using laser speckle contrast imaging via a thermal load test.
The research was conducted by Sotaro Katui MD; Yoshinori Inoue, PhD; Kimihiro Igari, PhD; Takahiro Toyofuku, PhD; Toshifumi Kudo; Phd; and Hiroyuki Uetake, PhD. Their manuscript titled, “Novel assessment tool based on laser speckle contrast imaging to diagnose severe ischemia in the lower limb for patients with peripheral arterial disease” was selected as Editor’s Choice in the September 2017 issue of LSM.
“In the 21st century, peripheral arterial disease (PAD) has become a universal problem. It is estimated that globally, over 200 million people are affected by PAD, which continues to show increasing incidence rates. Appropriate and timely diagnosis of PAD can ensure effective treatment leading to improved prognosis and savings in terms of medical expenses,” said Dr. Katsui.
“This manuscript describes for the first time the laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) technique for use in patients with PAD to quantify the fluctuation in dorsal foot skin perfusion following application of a thermal load. LSCI yields tissue perfusion values with high spatial and temporal resolution. In this study, we found that a specific fluctuation exists in severely ischemic limbs. Our results also provide insights into the new criteria pertaining to critical limb ischemia (CLI).”
Dr. Sotaro Katsui is a graduate student at the Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery at the Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan. Dr. Katsui is deeply interested in research to study laser blood flowmetry and its application to the field of angiology. His research aims are to establish new assessment methods for PAD, especially CLI.
Editor’s Choice is an exclusive article published in LSM, the official journal of the ASLMS. View the complete manuscript.
The American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, Inc. (ASLMS) is the largest multi-disciplinary professional organization, dedicated to the development and application of lasers and related technology for health care applications. ASLMS promotes excellence in patient care by advancing biomedical application of lasers and other related technologies worldwide. Currently, ASLMS has over 4,000 members, including physicians and surgeons representing more than 51 specialties, physicists involved in product development, biomedical engineers, biologists, nurses, industry representatives and manufacturers. For more information, visit aslms.org.