London, ON - Researchers at the Lawson Health
Research Institute`s Centre for Critical Illness
Research (CCIR) are exploring the benefits of a
revolutionary imaging technique that allows
clinicians to observe and measure in real-time the
microscopic microcirculation in human vascular
beds. According to Dr. Richard Potter, Program
Leader at the Centre, the CCIR is the only centre
in Canada presently using Orthogonal Polarized
Spectral (OPS) imaging in a clinical setting.
"OPS imaging technology is the perfect
research and diagnostic tool," comments Dr.
Potter. "It is portable and allows us to acquire
images from the liver, intestine and skeletal
muscle during surgery, as well as the sublingual
microcirculation. Everything we have done with
an intravital microscope at the bench we are now
able to do in a clinical setting*this is true
translational research."
According to Dr. Potter, the human body`s
microvasculature was invisible until now, at least
at the resolution provided by OPS imaging. The
microvasculature refers to that portion of the
circulatory system that is made up of the smallest
blood vessels (capillaries) and their supply and
drainage vessels. Most importantly, it is the site
for the exchange of oxygen and other nutrients to
all tissues in the body.
"OPS imaging can be used to measure vessel
diameter, red blood cell velocity and functional
capillary density in almost all human organs.
These measurements are very important. They
allow us to measure inflammatory responses and
enable us to judge the efficacy of treatments. For
example, this technology has the potential to help
us judge how well a transplanted organ is being
accepted." Dr. Potter and his team will use this
technology in several clinical trials, including
areas of vascular reconstructive surgery, diabetes,
intensive care and organ transplantation.
Several studies have confirmed that OPS
imaging is capable of acquiring images with the
same high quality as those obtained by intravital
video microscopy, the "gold standard" for direct
visualization of the microcirculation. However,
due to the invasiveness of this technique intravital
microscopy has been limited to use in animal
research projects only.
"The future benefit to the patient will be
immense," states Lawson scientists, Dr. Neil Parry,
General Surgeon, Division of General Surgery and
Dr. Tom Forbes, Division of Vascular Surgery, at
London Health Sciences Centre. "To uncover
what we can see and do with the OPS imaging
technology, we will advance our knowledge of
how to prevent, diagnose and treat a wide range
of diseases."
Julia Capaldi
Communications Consultant
Lawson Health Research Institute
Tel: (519) 646-6100 ext. 61098
Fax: (519) 646-6110