Laser Doppler imaging for intraoperative human brain mapping

Neuroimage. 2009 Feb 15;44(4):1284-9. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2008.10.049. Epub 2008 Nov 12.

Abstract

The identification and accurate location of centers of brain activity are vital both in neuro-surgery and brain research. This study aimed to provide a non-invasive, non-contact, accurate, rapid and user-friendly means of producing functional images intraoperatively. To this end a full field Laser Doppler imager was developed and integrated within the surgical microscope and perfusion images of the cortical surface were acquired during awake surgery whilst the patient performed a predetermined task. The regions of brain activity showed a clear signal (10-20% with respect to the baseline) related to the stimulation protocol which lead to intraoperative functional brain maps of strong statistical significance and which correlate well with the preoperative fMRI and intraoperative cortical electro-stimulation. These initial results achieved with a prototype device and wavelet based regressor analysis (the hemodynamic response function being derived from MRI applications) demonstrate the feasibility of LDI as an appropriate technique for intraoperative functional brain imaging.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brain Mapping / methods*
  • Brain Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Brain Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Intraoperative Care / methods*
  • Laser-Doppler Flowmetry / methods*
  • Lasers*
  • Male
  • Surgery, Computer-Assisted / methods*
  • Treatment Outcome