Dual-display laparoscopic laser speckle contrast imaging for real-time surgical assistance

Abstract

Laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) utilizes the speckle pattern of a laser to determine the blood flow in tissues. The current approaches for its use in a clinical setting require a camera system with a laser source on a separate optical axis making it unsuitable for minimally invasive surgery (MIS). With blood flow visualization, bowel viability, for example, can be determined. Thus, LSCI can be a valuable tool in gastrointestinal surgery. In this work, we develop the first-of-its-kind dual-display laparoscopic vision system integrating LSCI with a commercially available 10mm rigid laparoscope where the laser has the same optical axis as the laparoscope. Designed for MIS, our system permits standard color RGB, label-free vasculature imaging, and fused display modes. A graphics processing unit accelerated algorithm enables the real-time display of three different modes at the surgical site. We demonstrate the capability of our system for imaging relative flow rates in a microfluidic phantom with channels as small as 200 µm at a working distance of 1-5 cm from the laparoscope tip to the phantom surface. Using our system, we reveal early changes in bowel perfusion, which are invisible to standard color vision using a rat bowel occlusion model. Furthermore, we apply our system for the first time for imaging intestinal vasculature during MIS in a swine.

Clinical applications of laser speckle contrast imaging: a review

“…42 Two other groups have devised an endoscope to image the retinal blood flow in rats 95 and mice 96 to overcome the difficulty associated with the refractive properties due to the curved cornea. Some used endoscopes, whereas Zheng et al 97 reported on the development of a multi-camera laparoscope. This was used to image intestinal vasculature in a minimal invasive setting in a swine.…”

Biophotonics methods for functional monitoring of complications of diabetes mellitus

“…These sites are most convenient for research as closely lying vessels provide a higher signal-to-noise ratio. Later, this technology was applied in surgical interventions [123,124].…”

Involvement of intestinal hypoperfusion related with Indoleamine 2,3-peroxidase activation and 5-HT metabolism abnormality in intestinal dysfunction after acute myocardial infarction

“…Laser speckle technique for measuring mesenteric blood ow [20] Rats were anesthetized with 3% pentobarbital sodium by intraperitoneal injection(45 mg/kg). the injection dose is 25 mg/kg), shaved and incised in the middle of the abdomen (1.5 cm incision), and 10 cm of the intestinal segment with mesentery at the end of the ileum were gently took out from the abdominal cavity and placed on a thermostatic plate (37.7℃).…”