Application of a micro-multipoint laser doppler velocimeter for in vivo evaluation of subcutaneous blood flow

We have developed a micro‐multipoint laser Doppler velocimeter (µMLDV), which is the newest version of our improved laser Doppler velocimeter (LDV). This device can potentially be used clinically for the evaluation of the internal diameter of blood vessels, inspection of blood vessel protrusions and diagnosis of melanoma. To date, we have verified the accuracy of this device for three‐dimensional measurement of blood vessels in vivo and measurement of melanoma. The state of blood flow is one of the evaluation criteria for tissue fixing. However, the state of blood flow is difficult to determine visually. If the state of blood flow can be visualized using this system, without damaging the affected area, it is possible to evaluate fixing noninvasively. Therefore, we measured normal blood vessels and cases in which there was no blood flow for comparison and verified the possibility of using the µMLDV as an evaluation device. © 2013 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.