Brain Blood Flow Measurement: Laser Speckle Device New Technology
- Researchers have developed a new, affordable, and non-invasive device to measure blood flow in the brain, offering a potential alternative to expensive techniques like MRI and CT scans....
- The device utilizes speckle contrast optical spectroscopy (SCOS), a technique previously used in animal studies.
- Tiny blood cells pass through a laser beam, and the way the light scatters allows us to measure blood flow and volume in the brain."
New Device Offers Simple, Non-Invasive Way to Measure Brain blood Flow
Table of Contents
Researchers have developed a new, affordable, and non-invasive device to measure blood flow in the brain, offering a potential alternative to expensive techniques like MRI and CT scans. This breakthrough could significantly improve access to critical diagnostics for neurological conditions.
How it Works
The device utilizes speckle contrast optical spectroscopy (SCOS), a technique previously used in animal studies. It works by shining a laser beam and capturing images of the scattered light with a high-resolution camera. The pattern of scattered light reveals details about blood flow and volume in the brain.
“It’s really that simple. Tiny blood cells pass through a laser beam, and the way the light scatters allows us to measure blood flow and volume in the brain.”
– Charles Liu, MD, PhD, Professor of Clinical Neurological Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of USC
Validating Brain Signal origin
A key challenge with light-based brain imaging is distinguishing signals originating from the brain itself versus those from blood vessels in the scalp. researchers addressed this by temporarily blocking blood flow to the scalp and confirming that the SCOS readings were indeed measuring cerebral blood flow.
The study found that a detector positioned at least 2.3 centimeters away from the laser source provided the clearest measurement of brain blood flow.
Key findings & Data
The research team demonstrated, for the first time in humans, that a laser speckle optical device can effectively penetrate the scalp layers to access signals from cerebral blood vessels.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Optimal Detector Distance | ≥ 2.3 centimeters from laser source |
| Technique Used | Speckle Contrast Optical spectroscopy (SCOS) |
| Study Participants | 20 |
Applications
- Stroke Risk Assessment: The device has shown promise in assessing an individual’s risk of stroke.
- Brain Injury Detection: It can be used to detect and monitor brain injuries, such as those from traumatic brain injury (TBI).
- Vascular Dementia Monitoring: Potential for tracking blood flow changes associated with vascular dementia.
The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Alfred Mann Foundation, and the USC Neurorestoration Center.