Laser Doppler Perfusion Imaging in the Mouse Hindlimb

Skin ulceration with inadequate wound healing is a leading cause of amputation in human patients. Adequate wound healing requires higher levels of arterial profusion that are needed to maintain intact skin, which is compromised in patients with peripheral arterial disease. Several other rheumatologic conditions and diabetes can also lead to disturbed and inadequate skin microcirculation to heal wounds.

Many diabetic patients have concomitant peripheral arterial disease, placing them at especially high risk for amputation. Laser Doppler perfusion imaging or LDPI is used in clinical situations to evaluate the skin microcirculation as well as in research situations to evaluate blood flow and blood flow recovery after experimental hindlimb ischemia, ischemia reperfusion and microsurgical flaps. The LDPI system projects a low-power laser beam that is deflected by a scanning mirror to move over a region of interest.