Researchers develop new technology to scan skin, reveal signs of heart disease

A team of German researchers has developed a new imaging technology that can noninvasively scan your skin and also reveal early signs of cardiovascular riskFastRSOM skin scan can detect tiny changes in blood vessels oxygen levels and tissue composition that are invisible to traditional imagingIt can capture detailed images of the smallest blood vessels directly through the skin and detect tiny changes in their ability to expand and contract known as microvascular endothelial dysfunction MiVEDUntil now doctors had no precise and noninvasive way to see or measure these early changes in humansAccording to the team from the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres by revealing early signs of heart disease risk the technology could help doctors intervene sooner guide personalised therapies and improve longterm heart healthWith fastRSOM we can for the first time noninvasively assess endothelial dysfunction at singlecapillary and skinlayer resolution in humans said Dr Hailong He researcher at the Institute of Biological and Medical Imaging at Helmholtz MunichOur novel approach offers an unprecedented view of how cardiovascular disease manifests at the microvascular level added Dr Angelos Karlas cofirst author vascular surgeon and senior research scientist at Technical University of Munich TUM University HospitalThe study is published in the journal Light Science ampamp ApplicationsFastRSOM provides highresolution dynamic MiVED biomarkers describing subtle impairments in blood vessel function that are generally present before clinical symptoms or measurable macroscopic disease features appearThese early changes are often linked to risk factors such as smoking high blood pressure or obesity However in contrast to computing risk based on descriptive conditions fastRSOM can quantitatively capture the actual changes that these conditions have imposed on the microvascular system long before major complications developBy capturing these early warning signs fastRSOM opens up new possibilities for early detection prevention and more precise monitoring of cardiovascular health The technology could help identify individuals at higher risk of developing cardiovascular events with higher precision and monitor lifestyle or therapeutic interventions the team saidThe RSOM Raster Scan Optoacoustic Mesoscopy is a noninvasive imaging technology that uses pulses of light to generate ultrasound signals producing highly detailed 3D images of structures beneath the skinThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever