Abstract
To simulate the hemodynamic effects in the feet in response to a thigh cuff occlusion, we have developed a multi-compartmental model in which the circulatory system for the leg is represented by its electrical equivalents. Dynamic vascular optical tomographic imaging data previously obtained from 20 patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) and 20 healthy subjects is used to test the model. Analyzing the clinical data with the support of the model yields diagnostic specificity and sensitivity in the 90-95% range, significantly higher than previously reported.
Highlights
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) affects approximately 12 million people in the US and is considered the leading cause of low-extremity amputations, responsible for over 70,000 amputations annually [1]
PAD is caused by an accumulation of plaque in the vessels of the lower extremities, which leads to stenosis and reduction in blood flow
To overcome some of these limitations, we have developed a vascular optical tomography imaging (VOTI) system, which measures transmitted and reflected light intensities and allows to estimate hemoglobin distribution inside the feet [10,11]
Summary
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) affects approximately 12 million people in the US and is considered the leading cause of low-extremity amputations, responsible for over 70,000 amputations annually [1]. A third method is angiography, which can provide a map of the vascular tree in the legs This technique either relies on nephrotoxic contrast agents (when magnetic resonance imaging is employed) or radiation exposure (when X-ray computed tomography is used), which limits its use in patients with renal failure or for a continuous monitoring of the condition. None of these methods provides information about the distal perfusion in the foot, where most of the ulcers occur [7,8,9]
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