IMAGE ANALYSIS OF VASCULAR CASTS

这项研究的目标是开发快速、自动化的仪器程序，用于详细分析心脏中完整的动脉网络。测量的参数包括动脉直径、动脉分支频率、分支长度和角度。这项研究基于这样的工作假设：在对血管网络中含有荧光血管填充化合物的组织块进行连续切片期间，可以从新暴露表面的数字荧光图像中获得用于快速重建详细血管图的数据。在第一阶段，对成像冷冻切片机进行了改造，以在连续切片过程中从大鼠心脏和肺部获得血管填充复合荧光图像。探索了动脉充盈和图像采集的最佳条件。开发了初步分析软件。第二阶段研究将通过与华盛顿大学的分包商合作，研究心脏血管结构和血管流量以及肺部血管结构和肺功能的相关性。在第二阶段，工作将集中在软件开发上，以将图像数据转换为适合生理网络分析的数据库。该项目将为生理学和微循环研究人员提供一种改进且价格实惠的工具，用于血管网络绘图以及生物系统中血管、肺、神经和其他网络的网络分析。拟议的商业应用：该技术将使评估血管网络的方法自动化。目前需要数月至数年的程序将缩短至数小时和数天。潜在市场包括目前研究血管分支的研究实验室和大量其他研究人员，他们现在可以评估血管生理学问题，这些问题以前由于数据采集和分析的时间消耗和成本而无法回答。

The goal of this research is to develop rapid, automated instrumentation procedures for detailed analysis of complete arterial networks in hearts. Measured parameters will include arterial diameter, frequency of arterial branching, branch lengths, and angles. This research is based on the working hypothesis that data for rapid reconstruction of detailed vascular maps can be obtained from digital fluorescence images of freshly exposed surfaces during serial sectioning of tissue blocks containing fluorescent vascular filling compound in the vascular network. During Phase I, an imaging cryomicrotome was modified to obtain vascula filling compound fluorescence images from rat hearts and lungs during serial sectioning. Optimal conditions for arterial filling and for image collection were explored. Prelminary analysis sofiware was developed. Phase II studies will involve correlations of vascular structure and vascular flow in heart and vascular structure and pulmonary function in lungs through collaborations with subcontractors at the University of Washington. During Phase II, efforts will be concentrated on soflware development to convert image data into databases sultable for physiological network analysis. This project will provide physiology and microcirculation researchers 'with an improved and affordable tool for vascular network mapping and for network analysis of vascular, pulmonary, neural and other networks in biological systems. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS: This technology would automate methods for evaluating vascular networks. Procedures that currently take months to years will be shortened to hours and days. Potential markets include research laboratories currently studying vascular branching and a large number of additional researchers who could now evaluate questions of vascular physiology that could not previously be answered due to time consumption and cost of data acquisition and analysis.