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

在这个项目中，我们将开发血红蛋白视频成像(HVI)，这是一种快速、安全和非侵入性的技术，以单细胞分辨率展示结膜微循环。一般来说，对周围血管系统的微循环知之甚少，因为大多数微血管系统不能被成像并在临床上重新检查。HVI将用于研究健康和疾病的微循环生理学和药理学，并建立诊断和治疗参数。HVI使用改进的裂隙灯，这是一种常规用于眼科检查的光学设备。眼睛表面被一条被血红蛋白吸收的绿色波段照射。这就产生了高对比度、高分辨率的视频，在明亮的光背景下显示出黑暗的红细胞。目前，由于眼球运动、呼吸和心脏活动的不由自主的微眼球运动，图像质量下降，无法进行定量分析。该项目的第一年到第二年将涉及光学和控制工程，以实现对结膜微循环的连续自动聚焦。该项目未来几年将专注于视觉计算和稳定血流的分析，临床研究糖尿病、系统性硬化症、系统性血管炎和高血压等系统性疾病期间微循环的变化。相关EPSRC研究领域：1.医学成像(包括医学图像和视觉计算)2.图像和视觉计算3.控制工程4.光学器件和子系统5.复杂流体与流变学

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 Computing3. Control Engineering4. Optical Devices and Subsystems5. Complex Fluids and Rheology