A team of German researchers has created a new imaging technology called Fast-RSOM skin scan. This technology can scan the skin noninvasively and identify early signs of cardiovascular risk. Fast-RSOM can detect subtle changes in blood vessels, oxygen levels, and tissue composition that are not visible through traditional imaging methods.
The technology can provide detailed images of the smallest blood vessels directly through the skin. It can also identify tiny changes in the blood vessels’ ability to expand and contract, a condition known as microvascular endothelial dysfunction (MiVED). Previously, there was no precise and noninvasive way for doctors to observe or measure these early changes in humans.
The researchers from the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres believe that Fast-RSOM could help in detecting early signs of heart disease risk. This early detection could enable doctors to intervene sooner, offer personalized therapies, and enhance long-term heart health. Dr. Hailong He, a researcher at the Institute of Biological and Medical Imaging at Helmholtz Munich, mentioned that Fast-RSOM allows the assessment of endothelial dysfunction at a single-capillary and skin-layer resolution in humans for the first time.
Dr. Angelos Karlas, a co-first author of the study and a vascular surgeon at Technical University of Munich (TUM) University Hospital, highlighted that the technology offers a unique insight into how cardiovascular disease appears at the microvascular level. Published in the journal Light: Science & Applications, the study on Fast-RSOM emphasizes its ability to provide high-resolution, dynamic MiVED biomarkers, describing subtle impairments in blood vessel function that precede clinical symptoms or measurable disease features.
Fast-RSOM can quantitatively capture the actual changes imposed by risk factors like smoking, high blood pressure, or obesity on the microvascular system. By identifying these early changes, the technology opens up new avenues for early detection, prevention, and precise monitoring of cardiovascular health. It could help in pinpointing individuals at a higher risk of cardiovascular events with greater accuracy and in monitoring lifestyle or therapeutic interventions effectively.
RSOM (Raster Scan Optoacoustic Mesoscopy) is the underlying technology behind Fast-RSOM. It is a noninvasive imaging technique that utilizes light pulses to create ultrasound signals, generating detailed 3D images of structures beneath the skin.
