Hyperspectral imaging for monitoring of perfusion failure upon microvascular anastomosis in the rat hind limb.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Objective, reliable and easy monitoring of microvascular tissue perfusion is a goal that was achieved for many years with limited success. Therefore, a new non-invasive hyperspectral camera system (TIVITA™) was tested for this purpose in an in vivo animal model. METHODS: Evaluation of tissue oxygenation during ischemia and upon reperfusion was performed in left hind limb in a rat model (n=20). Ischemia was induced by clamping and dissection of the superficial femoral artery. Reperfusion of the limb was achieved by microsurgical anastomosis of the dissected artery. Oxygenation parameters of the hind limb were assessed via TIVITA™ before and immediately after clamping and dissection of the artery, 3 and 30min after reperfusion as well as on postoperative days 1 and 2. Thereby, the non-operated hind limb served as control. As clinical parameters, the refill of the anastomosis as well as the progress of the affected leg were assessed. RESULTS: In 12 from 20 cases, TIVITA™ recorded a sufficient reperfusion with oxygenation parameters comparable to baseline or control condition. However, in 8 from 20 cases oxygenation was found impaired after reperfusion causing a re-assessment of the microvascular anastomosis. Thereby, technical problems like stenosis or local thrombosis were found in all cases and were surgically treated leading to an increased tissue oxygenation. CONCLUSIONS: The TIVITA™ camera system is a valid non-invasive tool to assess tissue perfusion after microvascular anastomosis. As it safely shows problems in oxygenation, it allows the clinician a determined revision of the site in time in order to prevent prolonged ischemia.

The Accuracy of Pulse Spectroscopy for Detecting Hypoxemia and Coexisting Methemoglobin or Carboxyhemoglobin.

BACKGROUND: Pulse spectroscopy is a new noninvasive technology involving hundreds of wavelengths of visible and infrared light, enabling the simultaneous quantitation of multiple types of normal and dysfunctional hemoglobin. We evaluated the accuracy of a first-generation pulse spectroscopy system (V-Spec™ Monitoring System, Senspec, Germany) in measuring oxygen saturation (SpO2) and detecting carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) or methemoglobin (MetHb), alone or simultaneously, with hypoxemia. METHODS: Nineteen volunteers were fitted with V-Spec probes on the forehead and fingers. A radial arterial catheter was placed for blood sampling during (1) hypoxemia with arterial oxygen saturations (SaO2) of 100% to 58.5%; (2) normoxia with MetHb and COHb increased to approximately 10%; (3) 10% COHb or MetHb combined with hypoxemia with SaO2 of 100% to 80%. Standard measures of pulse-oximetry performance were calculated: bias (pulse spectroscopy measured value - arterial measured value) mean ± SD and root-mean-square error (Arms). RESULTS: The SpO2 bias for SaO2 approximately 60% to 100% was 0.06% ± 1.30% and Arms of 1.30%. COHb bias was 0.45 ± 1.63, with an Arms of 1.69% overall, and did not degrade substantially during moderate hypoxemia. MetHb bias was 0.36 ± 0.80 overall and stayed small with hypoxemia. Arms was 0.88 and was <3% at all levels of SaO2 and MetHb. Hypoxemia was also accurately detected by pulse spectroscopy at elevated levels of COHb. At elevated MetHb levels, a substantial negative bias developed, -10.3 at MetHb >10%. CONCLUSIONS: Pulse spectroscopy accurately detects hypoxemia, MetHb, and COHb. The technology also accurately detects these dysfunctional hemoglobins during hypoxemia. Future releases of this device may have an improved SpO2 algorithm that is more robust with methemoglobinemia.

Evaluation of peripheral artery disease with the TIVITA® Tissue hyperspectral imaging camera system.

BACKGROUND: Objective, reliable and easy screening for peripheral artery disease (PAD) is essential to confirm the diagnosis and initiate the respective treatment. Therefore, a new non-invasive hyperspectral camera (TIVITA® Tissue) was tested in patients with and without PAD. OBJECTIVE: It was hypothesized that the oxygenation parameters of the TIVITA® Tissue correlate to established modalities for detection of PAD and allow differentiation between individuals with and without PAD. METHODS: Evaluation of tissue oxygenation was performed in the angiosome of the medial plantar artery in 25 healthy young people and in 24 patients with and 25 patients without PAD in comparable age. Thereby, superficial oxygenation (StO2) and near-infrared (NIR) perfusion index were measured with the TIVITA® Tissue. Additionally, the ankle-brachial-index (ABI), the complaint free walking distance and the vascular quality of life were assessed and demographic data were obtained from all participants. RESULTS: TIVITA® Tissue analysis revealed significantly reduced StO2 and NIR perfusion index in PAD compared to healthy young participants and patients without PAD. StO2 and NIR perfusion index positively correlated with ABI, the complaint free walking distance and the vascular quality of life score. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, this new hyperspectral imaging camera bears great potential for PAD screening as well as for follow up.

A compact hyperspectral camera for measurement of perfusion parameters in medicine.

Worldwide, chronic wounds are still a major and increasing problem area in medicine with protracted suffering of patients and enormous costs. Beside conventional wound treatment, for instance kinds of oxygen therapy and cold plasma technology have been tested, providing an improvement in the perfusion of wounds and their healing potential, but these methods are unfortunately not sufficiently validated and accepted for clinical practice to date. Using hyperspectral imaging technology in the visible (VIS) and near infrared (NIR) region with high spectral and spatial resolution, perfusion parameters of tissue and wounds can be determined. We present a new compact hyperspectral camera which can be used in clinical practice. From hyperspectral data the hemoglobin oxygenation (StO2), the relative concentration of hemoglobin [tissue hemoglobin index (THI)] and the so-called NIR-perfusion index can be determined. The first two parameters are calculated from the VIS-part of the spectrum and represent the perfusion of superficial tissue layers, whereas the NIR-perfusion index is calculated from the NIR-part representing the perfusion in deeper layers. First clinical measurements of transplanted flaps and chronic ulcer wounds show, that the perfusion level can be determined quantitatively allowing sensitive evaluation and monitoring for an optimization of the wound treatment planning and for validation of new treatment methods.

Hyperspectral imaging in perfusion and wound diagnostics - methods and algorithms for the determination of tissue parameters.

Blood perfusion is the supply of tissue with blood, and oxygen is a key factor in the field of minor and major wound healing. Reduced perfusion of a wound bed or transplant often causes various complications. Reliable methods for an objective evaluation of perfusion status are still lacking, and insufficient perfusion may remain undiscovered, resulting in chronic processes and failing transplants. Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) represents a novel method with increasing importance for clinical practice. Therefore, methods, software and algorithms for a new HSI system are presented which can be used to observe tissue oxygenation and other parameters that are of importance in supervising healing processes. This could offer an improved insight into wound perfusion allowing timely intervention.

Oxygenation and perfusion monitoring with a hyperspectral camera system for chemical based tissue analysis of skin and organs.

The monitoring of free flaps, free transplants or organs for transplantation still poses a problem in medicine. Available systems for the measurement of perfusion and oxygenation can only perform localized measurements and usually need contact with the tissue. Contact free hyperspectral imaging and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) for the analysis of tissue oxygenation and perfusion have been used in many scientific studies with good results. But up to now the clinical and scientific application of this technology has been hindered by the lack of hyperspectral measurement systems usable in clinical practice. We will introduce the application of a new hyperspectral camera system for the quick and robust recording of remission spectra in the combined VIS and NIR spectral range with high spectral and spatial resolution. This new system can be applied for the clinical monitoring of free flaps and organs providing high quality oxygenation and perfusion images.