In Vivo Applications of Diffuse Optical Techniques For Measuring Hemodynamics in Mouse Models of Cerebral Stroke

Abstract

With strokes, time is the paramount factor in determining the severity and aftermath of a patient. Every minute that passes, a portion of the brain is losing blood flow and oxygen saturation that results in the death of the local tissue. This results in numerous impairments and problems for the patient. There is another issue besides time, though. Fixing a stroke can be invasive and expensive as surgeons search for a clot or hemorrhage. Other options include medication that can gradually break down the clot, however, the effects may not occur within adequate time. The OSIM Lab (Miami University) has researched the efficacy of using diffuse optics to noninvasively and cheaply, detect where in the skull an ischemic stroke (Blood clot) is occurring. Two different methods in diffuse optics, LASCI (Lazer Speckle Contrast Imaging) and DRS (Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy), were used to detect microvascular changes in blood flow and oxygen saturation in the skulls of adolescent mice. The project was completed at Cincinnati Children's Medical Center.