A new method for assessing volumetric flows in microvascular networks based on laser Doppler and microscopic imagery
A new method was developed to produce a composite image of the microvascular network with grayscale proportional to volumetric flow. Velocities in arterioles and venules were assessed with a high resolution laser Doppler imager (LDI). The vascular structures were quantified from the micrograph with a computerized vessel detection algorithm. After registering the vascular network with the LDI scan, volumetric flows were calculated for the entire vasculature. In vivo data were obtained from the hamster cheek pouch in 6 studies.