Microcirculatory Perfusion Imaging of the Soft Palate and Tonsils

Chronic tonsillitis is a common disease caused by bacterial or viral infections. The most significant complication of tonsillectomy indicated in patients with chronic tonsillitis is postoperative bleeding. For its prevention, accurate control of wound healing in oral cavity is mandatory. Microcirculation in the soft palate and tonsils may provide valuable information on this due to neoangiogenesis that accompanies oral mucosa restoration. In this study, we propose an optical technique for non-invasive monitoring the microcirculatory perfusion in the oral cavity. We developed endoscope-based photoplethysmography system able to deliver bright images with rather high frame rate. Spatiotemporal processing of this image sequence allows two-dimensional perfusion mapping and quantification of microcirculatory function.