Happi Staff10.30.20
Blood flow information for vessels in the deeper layer of skin and capillaries can be detected simultaneously in videomicroscopic vascular images by use of automatic visual extraction technology, according to researchers at the Skin Care Research Laboratory of Kao Corporation.
Development of this non-invasive and simple technique of image analysis provides an ability to simultaneously obtain blood flow information for both capillaries and vessels in the deeper layer of an identical site. This makes it possible to extensively investigate the relationship of blood flow at various depths with skin condition, as well as the effects of various approaches to promote blood circulation.
Development of this non-invasive and simple technique of image analysis provides an ability to simultaneously obtain blood flow information for both capillaries and vessels in the deeper layer of an identical site. This makes it possible to extensively investigate the relationship of blood flow at various depths with skin condition, as well as the effects of various approaches to promote blood circulation.
Kao plans to further study blood flow changes brought about by aging and environmental factors, and the effects of blood flow status on various skin conditions.
In its research, Kao noted that a densely-arranged network formed by blood vessels tens to hundreds of micrometers in diameter and extremely fine capillaries with a diameter of less than 10 micrometers is present in skin. Blood flowing through these vessels supplies heat, nutrients, water and oxygen, and collects waste products. Kao has been advancing research by investigation of the various functions of this blood vessel network from the perspective of maintaining beautiful and healthy skin.
Blood vessels in the deeper layer and capillaries in the surface layer of skin differ in regard to their major roles and action characteristics. These differences are considered to be closely linked with skin condition. However, it is difficult to obtain details regarding blood flow for different vessels at an identical site simultaneously, as several different instruments are needed for acquiring information present in layers that vary in depth and have constant blood flow changes. In the study, Kao researchers attempted simultaneous detection of blood flow information using a single image.
In its research, Kao noted that a densely-arranged network formed by blood vessels tens to hundreds of micrometers in diameter and extremely fine capillaries with a diameter of less than 10 micrometers is present in skin. Blood flowing through these vessels supplies heat, nutrients, water and oxygen, and collects waste products. Kao has been advancing research by investigation of the various functions of this blood vessel network from the perspective of maintaining beautiful and healthy skin.
Blood vessels in the deeper layer and capillaries in the surface layer of skin differ in regard to their major roles and action characteristics. These differences are considered to be closely linked with skin condition. However, it is difficult to obtain details regarding blood flow for different vessels at an identical site simultaneously, as several different instruments are needed for acquiring information present in layers that vary in depth and have constant blood flow changes. In the study, Kao researchers attempted simultaneous detection of blood flow information using a single image.
Last year, Kao reported development of an image-processing technology capable of specifically extracting and quantitatively measuring blood flow changes in skin capillaries. By using this technology, an image of skin, including capillaries, is divided into separate independent hemoglobin, melanin, and shadow components, then the hemoglobin component and noise are filtered, leaving only information for capillaries. In the present study, it was noted that all blood flow information in the skin was visible by use of videomicroscopy to view the hemoglobin component image. Thus, it was considered that by integration of the brightness values in the image, blood flow could be estimated. As the capillaries accounted for a small percentage in the visualized portion, the hemoglobin component was considered to mainly demonstrate blood flow in the deeper layer and used for estimation.
With this technique, it is possible to simultaneously obtain capillary blood flow information as well as that in the entire skin area by examining a single image, according to Kao.
Skin vessels are generally considered to have two major roles. One is in regard to heat transportation for regulating body temperature, which mainly involves blood flow in vessels in the deeper layer, while the other is related to material exchange, such as the supply of nutrients and oxygen, and removal of carbon dioxide, in which capillaries in the surface layer are primarily involved. To evaluate the proposed image analysis technology, heat and carbon dioxide (carbonic acid), which have different action mechanisms, were used to quantify and compare blood flow changes in vessels at different depths.
Skin of the inner part of the upper arm in six Japanese male and female subjects was sequentially treated with heat and carbonic acid. Images of the skin areas after each treatment were obtained and subjected to the above-mentioned image processing method for analyzing the amount of the hemoglobin component and capillary blood flow.
Skin of the inner part of the upper arm in six Japanese male and female subjects was sequentially treated with heat and carbonic acid. Images of the skin areas after each treatment were obtained and subjected to the above-mentioned image processing method for analyzing the amount of the hemoglobin component and capillary blood flow.
The results showed that when exposed to heat, the hemoglobin component level increased and blood flow throughout the skin was also increased, whereas nearly no changes were seen in the capillaries, according to Kao. Meanwhile, following exposure to carbonic acid, both the hemoglobin component throughout the skin and capillary blood flow volume were increased.
These findings indicate that this image analysis technology can provide simultaneous evaluation of blood flow information from different blood vessels using a single image.
More information can be found here.
More information can be found here.
