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  • João Jorge, Mirae Harford, Mauricio Villarroel, Chaichulee S., Shaun Davidson, Eoin Finnegan, Clark S.H., John Duncan Young, Peter J Watkinson and Lionel Tarassenko. "Non-contact assessment of peripheral artery haemodynamics using video infrared thermography." IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering. 2020 [Download PDF] [Published version]
Abstract

Non-contact assessment of peripheral artery haemodynamics using video infrared thermography

Skin temperature has long been used as a natural indicator of vascular diseases in the extremities. Considerable correlation between oscillations in skin surface temperature and oscillations of skin blood flow has previously been demonstrated. We hypothesised that the impairment of blood flow in stenotic (subcutaneous) peripheral arteries would influence cutaneous temperature such that, by measuring gradients in the temperature distribution over skin surfaces, one may be able to diagnose or quantify the progression of vascular conditions in whose pathogenesis a reduction in subcutaneous blood perfusion plays a critical role (e.g. peripheral artery disease). As proof of principle, this study investigates the local changes in the skin temperature of healthy humans (15 male, 30.0 ± 5.2 years old, BMI 25.1 ± 2.2 kg/m2 ) undergoing two physical challenges designed to vary their haemodynamic status. Skin temperature was measured in four central regions (forehead, neck, chest, and left shoulder) and four peripheral regions (left upper arm, forearm, wrist, and hand) using an infrared thermal camera. We compare inter-region patterns. Median temperature over the peripheral regions decreased from baseline after both challenges (maximum decrease: -2.09 ± 0.41 °C at 60 s after exercise; p = 0.0001 and -0.58 ± 0.14 °C at 180 s of cold-water immersion; p = 0.0013). Median temperature over the central regions showed no significant changes. Our results show that the non-contact measurement of perfusion-related changes in peripheral temperature from infrared video data is feasible. Further research will be directed towards the thermographic study of patients with symptomatic peripheral vascular disease.

Citation

@article{jorge2020non, title={Non-contact assessment of peripheral artery haemodynamics using video infrared thermography}, author={Jorge, Joao and Harford, Mirae and Villarroel, Mauricio and Chaichulee, Sitthichok and Davidson, Shaun and Finnegan, Eoin and Clark, Samuel H and Young, John Duncan and Watkinson, Peter J and Tarassenko, Lionel}, journal={IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering}, year={2020}, publisher={IEEE} }

  • Mirae Harford, Areia C., Mauricio Villarroel, João Jorge, Eoin Finnegan, Shaun Davidson, Mahdi Adam, John Duncan Young, Lionel Tarassenko and Peter J Watkinson. "Study protocol for an exploratory interventional study investigating the feasibility of video-based non-contact physiological monitoring in healthy volunteers by Mapping Of Lower Limb skIn pErfusion (MOLLIE)." British Medical Journal - BMJ Open, 10(6), 2020 [Download PDF] [Published version]
Abstract

Study protocol for an exploratory interventional study investigating the feasibility of video-based non-contact physiological monitoring in healthy volunteers by Mapping Of Lower Limb skIn pErfusion (MOLLIE)

Introduction: Skin perfusion varies in response to changes in the circulatory status. Blood flow to skin is reduced during haemodynamic collapse secondary to peripheral vasoconstriction, whereas increased skin perfusion is frequently observed when haemodynamics improve with resuscitation. These changes in perfusion may be monitored using non-contact image-based methods. Previous camera-derived physiological measurements have focused on accurate vital signs monitoring and extraction of physiological signals from environmental noise. One of the biggest challenges of camera-derived monitoring is artefacts from motion, which limits our understanding of what parameters may be derived from skin. In this study, we use phenylephrine and glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) to cause vasoconstriction and vasodilation in stationary healthy volunteers to describe directional changes in skin perfusion pattern.

Citation

@article{harford2020study, title={Study protocol for an exploratory interventional study investigating the feasibility of video-based non-contact physiological monitoring in healthy volunteers by Mapping Of Lower Limb skIn pErfusion (MOLLIE)}, author={Harford, Mirae and Areia, Carlos and Villarroel, Mauricio and Jorge, Joao and Finnegan, Eoin and Davidson, Shaun and Mahdi, Adam and Young, Duncan and Tarassenko, Lionel and Watkinson, Peter J}, journal={BMJ Open}, volume={10}, number={6}, pages={e036235}, year={2020}, publisher={British Medical Journal Publishing Group} }