Imaging photoplethysmography for assessment of chronic pain patients

摘要

In present pilot study application of multi-spectral imaging photoplethysmography for assessment of chronic painpatients during topical skin heating test was proposed. Photoplethysmography signal was recorded at 420nm, 530nm and810nm illumination from the skin and corresponding perfusion indexes and perfusion maps were calculated. The novelparameter-PPGflare index was introduced and compared in neuropathic patients and healthy volunteers. Preliminaryresults suggest that neuropathic patients exhibited significantly lower PPGflare index, and that local heating substantiallychange PPG waveform at heat exposed skin region. Present study emphasizes advantages of imagingphotoplethysmography as a simple and cost-effective alternative to Laser Doppler with promising clinical potential inassessment of neuropathic patients. In this respect, we believe that our study adds novel information to the field ofexisting chronic pain diagnostics.