Applications

Ischaemic Ulcer and Wound Healing

Non-healing chronic wounds and ulcers (including diabetic foot ulcers, ischaemic ulcers and pressure sores) cost billions of dollars per year in healthcare costs in addition to patient suffering and in extreme cases limb amputations and even morbidity. Wound healing is influenced by numerous factors including blood flow, tissue oxygenation and vascular pressures such as toe pressure (Påhlsson et al, 2002): insufficient levels of these factors can delay the wound healing process. Some studies indicate increased perfusion/oxygen saturation at the site of an ulcer can lead to improved healing (Newton et al, 2002). Monitoring and imaging of the microcirculation of wounds is used in numerous wound healing studies (Bauer et al, 2006. Newton et al, 2002.) and is of significant importance.

Moor Instruments provides a range of equipment enabling simple, rapid and non-invasive monitoring of blood flow, tissue oxygen saturation and temperature. In addition should you wish to image blood flow of the microcirculation over the wound surface (as shown in Figure 1) we have a range of non-contact, non-invasive, rapid imaging systems available to suit your Application needs.

Figure 1

Equipment Required

To image the blood flow over the surface of the wound and provide a blood flow map (as shown in Figure 1 above) we recommend the moorLDI2 or the moorLDLS2 (Figure 2)

Figure 2 the moorLDI2 is shown on the left, and the moorLDLS2 on the right. Both are available with a desktop or mobile stand.

If your interest lies in the detection and analysis of dynamic changes in the microcirculation why not take a look at the speckle contrast imager, the moorFLPI (Figure 3). The moorFLPI enables you to obtain live video recording of blood flow in the microcirculation – up to 25 frames per second!

Figure moorFLPI system and desktop stand

Should you wish to simultaneously measure blood flow, tissue oxygen saturation (SO₂) and temperature we recommend the moorVMS-OXY system, moorVMS-LDF, probes and moorVMS-PC dedicated software (Figure 4).

Figure 4 moorVMS-OXY system, moorVMS-LDF, probes and moorVMS-PC dedicated software

Studies Of The Macrocirculation In Wound Healing

Studies of the macro-circulation are also commonly used in the field of wound healing. Moor Instruments can offer dedicated equipment for these studies. For further details click on the links to open our detailed Application Notes for these tests:

• Toe pressure
• Pulse volume
• Skin perfusion pressure

The above can all be performed using our automated cuff inflation/deflation system the moorVMS-PRES, blood flow monitoring with the moorVMS-LDF, specially designed probes and dedicated simple to use software moorVMS-PC.

References

For additional information on this Application or advice for tailoring Moor Instruments products to your specific application contact us for more information.