Researchers Develop New Blood Flow Imaging Tool

A research team at Northwestern University has developed a 3-D imaging device that can track blood flow through capillaries.

The device can detect tiny changes in capillaries using spectral contrast optical coherence tomography angiography — a technique useful for early identification of diseases.

The technology doesn’t depend on injected dyes for contrast and requires no radiation. It can also image blood whether it’s stagnant or in motion, allowing it to image moving organs, unlike traditional imaging techniques.

"There has been a progressive push to image smaller and smaller blood vessels and provide more comprehensive, functional information," says Vadim Backman, the team’s leader. "Now we can see even the smallest capillaries and measure blood flow, oxygenation and metabolic rate."