How blood moves throughout the body and into the smallest capillaries is hard to observe using existing imaging methods. Yet, poor blood perfusion can be an indicator for a variety of medical conditions, potentially serving as a diagnostic tool and a way to help manage diseases.

Infrared thermography is a decent tool for this, but it is expensive, slow, and not very accurate. Researchers at Rice University have now developed a much cheaper technology that seems to perform significantly better at blood perfusion imaging than anything else currently in existence.

The system uses a conventional optical camera to detect slight changes in skin tone as blood flows in and out, but also a pulse oximeter to allow the technology to constantly calibrate itself against the patient’s pulse.

In testing, the new imaging modality showed a 1 mm spatial resolution, generating a new scan every second. Thanks to a built-in motion compensation algorithm and polarizing light filters, the technology maintains accuracy even under challenging conditions.

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By MEDGADGET EDITORS –  APRIL 20TH, 2020