Journal of Medical Diagnostic Methods
Open Access
ISSN: 2168-9784
+44 1300 500008
ISSN: 2168-9784
+44 1300 500008
Ross M Clark
University of New Mexico, USA
Posters-Accepted Abstracts: J Med Diagn Meth
Laser Speckle Contrast Imaging (LSCI) utilizes non-visible laser light to quantify the velocity of blood flow within tissue microcirculation. Such technology may be helpful in assessing the viability of healing wounds and understanding conditions where capillary blood flow is pathologically changed. Murine models of myocutaneous revascularization, such as the surgical creation of a dorsal skin flap, inform advances in the treatment of healing wounds in health and disease. In the laboratory setting, we have used LSCI extensively to evaluate surgical flap engraftment in a variety of transgenic mice. The device has proven useful in differentiating the healing characteristics of wild-type flaps from those of obese, hyperglycemic animals. A total of 53 mice were analyzed after the creation of identical 200 mm2 surgical flaps. A variety of strains were utilized including C57BL/6 (wild-type), leptin and leptin receptor-deficient (ob-/ob- and db-/db- respectively), analogous heterozygous strains (ob+/ob- and db+/db-) and mice rendered obese as a result of a high-fat diet. Data derived from LSCI imaging was found to be instrumental in discovering previously-unreported characteristics of angiogenesis in certain genetically obese mouse strains. In translating LSCI technology to a human clinical setting, our team has investigated cutaneous revascularization and engraftment of split-thickness skin grafts applied to visceral granulation tissue following severe abdominal trauma. Coupled with advanced histological and molecular techniques, LSCI has improved our understanding of skin graft healing. Future clinical applications of LSCI imaging may include the assessment of chronic wound perfusion and the adequacy of surgical wound debridement.
Email: rmclark@salud.unm.edu