Handheld laser speckle contrast imaging probe: quantitative video rate assessment of tissue perfusion in animal and patient applications.

Significance: Laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) is a quantitative and contrast-free imaging technique for the perfusion status of superficial tissue blood vessels. This technique has been effectively used for perfusion assessment in many clinical applications. However, existing LSCI systems are typically overhead camera-based devices that are bulky and pose challenges for seamless integration into clinical workflow. Aim: Here, we present a miniaturized handheld LSCI system that has been validated on a flow phantom. Further, its intraoperative performance on tissue perfusion detection is compared with that of a conventional overhead LSCI system. Approach: The LSCI probe has a pen-shaped sterilizable package that allows for maneuverability. The performance of the handheld device was tested in mouse craniotomy and human parathyroidectomy experiments. Results: The developed handheld LSCI probe can differentiate perfused from compromised, unperfused tissue targets with performance similar to that of an overhead camera system. Conclusions: Miniaturized LSCI can classify the perfusion in both animal cortices and human parathyroid glands without the need for significant motion correction, suggesting easy adoption in future clinical applications.