METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IN VIVO MEASURING BLOOD VELOCITY IN CAPILLARIES

摘要

A non-destructive method and apparatus for measuring blood flow for use, for example, in objectively evaluating massaging effects on skin and mucous membranes, for example the effects of a massage of the gingiva by dental devices. An area containing a blood vessel to be investigated is intravitally sensed to provide a magnified image of the area which is continuously recorded. The velocity of the blood flow in the blood vessel is quantitatively sensed from the reproduced magnified image. In a preferred embodiment, the blood vessel is sensed by the use of an intravital microscope in combination with a split opaque illuminator to provide a magnified image of the blood vessel for recording, for example, by a videotape recorder. The recorded videotape image is reproduced on a suitable screen and the velocity of blood flow is quantitatively sensed by causing a spot of light to traverse the screen at about the same rate of the blood flow appearing on the screen. The rate of the traverse of the flying spot indicates the velocity of the blood flow. By sensing the difference in the velocity of the blood flow before and after massaging of the gingiva by a dental device, the effect of the massage may be objectively determined.