Medical imaging and analysis of blood flow in healthy and diseased microcirculations

In this project, we will develop Haemoglobin Video Imaging (HVI), a rapid, safe, and non-invasive technique that demonstrates conjunctival microcirculations with single-cell resolution. In general, microcirculations of the peripheral vascular system are poorly understood because most microvasculature cannot be imaged and re-visited clinically. HVI will be applied to allow investigation of microcirculatory physiology and pharmacology in health and disease, and to establish diagnostic and treatment parameters.

HVI employs a modified slit-lamp, an optical device used routinely for ophthalmic examination. The surface of the eye is illuminated with a green waveband absorbed by Haemoglobin. This yields high-contrast, high-resolution videos of dark erythrocytes against a bright background of light. Presently, images are degraded by involuntary micro-saccadic eye movements, respiration, and heart action, preventing quantitative analysis. Years 1 to 2 of the project will involve optical and control engineering to achieve continuous autofocus on the conjunctival microcirculations. Later years of the project will focus on vision computing and analysis of the stabilized blood flow, with clinical investigation of microcirculation changes during systemic diseases like diabetes, systemic sclerosis, systemic vasculitis, and hypertension.

Relevant EPSRC research areas:

1. Medical Imaging (Including Medical Image and Vision Computing)
2. Image And Vision Computing
3. Control Engineering
4. Optical Devices and Subsystems
5. Complex Fluids and Rheology