Methods of Retinal Vessel Analysis

Retinal vascular analysis, which can be performed both statically and dynamically, offers unprecedented possibilities for non-invasive examination of the vital and health-relevant microcirculation. It provides important information about the systemic vascular health of patients. As a “mirror image” of microvascular changes in the entire body, vascular analysis enables important conclusions to be drawn about systemic diseases and the development of end organ damage.

Static vascular analysis - method for non-invasive assessment of vascular condition.

Static vessel analysis is an excellent and effective method for non-invasive and non-contact examination of the condition and morphology of the microcirculatory vessels. During this examination, arterioles and venules of the retina are imaged with a fundus camera to determine clinically relevant parameters of the vascular topology. Our extremely precise and easy-to-use AI-supported analysis software VesselMap, developed for this purpose analysis software VesselMap is ideally suited for use in research. The vascular parameters recorded represent valid biomarkers that have already been confirmed by large studies and can be used as risk factors or prognosis indicators for vascular diseases and vascular events.

Dynamic vascular analysis - method for non-invasive investigation of the function and autoregulation of microvessels

The worldwide unique method of dynamic vessel analysis enables a non-invasive examination of the functional and autoregulatory mechanisms of the smallest vessels. As an exceptional approach to microcirculation and endothelial function, vascular analysis on the eye provides essential information on subclinical changes in the entire body. This provides information about general vascular health and allows important conclusions to be drawn about systemic diseases and the development of end organ damage.

To analyze and quantify these functional autoregulatory mechanisms, our proprietary software measures and evaluates the time-varying vascular topology in video sequences in real time. During these measurements, the vascular autoregulatory mechanisms are stimulated, whereby the resulting dynamic vascular response is integrally included in the analyses.

The Imedos Dynamic Analyzer uses flicker light as a standard functional diagnostic stimulation to study retinal endothelium-dependent microvascular dysfunction. The vascular response is NO-mediated (endothelial NO synthase) and plays a key role among the regulatory mechanisms of vascular autoregulation and in many microcirculatory disorders and vascular diseases of various organs. Dynamic vascular analysis is therefore ideally suited for interdisciplinary use in clinical routine as well as for medical research.

Download:
Product Brochure Dynamic Vascular Analysis (German)
Product Brochure Dynamic Vascular Analysis (English)

Further information online:
Retinal vascular analysis: Mirror image of the microvasculature
(Article by R. Gerste in the German Medical Journal)

Endothelial function in cardiovascular medicine
A consensus paper of the European Society of Cardiology Working Groups on Atherosclerosis and Vascular Biology, Aorta and Peripheral Vascular Diseases, Coronary Pathophysiology and Microcirculation, and Thrombosis . 2021 Jan 1;117(1):29-42. doi:10.1093/cvr/cvaa085.

Physical activity and exercise improve retinal microvascular health as a biomarker of cardiovascular risk
 A systematic review. Atherosclerosis. 2020 Dec;315:33-42. doi:10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2020.09.017. Epub 2020 Sep 23. PMID: 33212315.

Reference book: “Retinal vessel analysis - a new method of diagnostics and risk prediction”

The innovative diagnostic approach of retinal vascular analysis is proving to be extremely revolutionary, particularly in the interdisciplinary field of preventive medicine. Together with Prof. Dr. Henner Hanssen and eight other scientists, our former Managing Director Dr. Walthard Vilser has written the first specialist book on this topic. In addition to the methodology, the book also describes fields of application, such as ophthalmology and cardiology, as well as current research findings.

The work with the ISBN 978-3-9374-1576-6 is published by UNI-MED for 29.80 euros and comprises 63 pages. It can be ordered directly from Imedos Health or from the publisher’s website. The reference book was initially published in English; German and Chinese editions are planned.