Microvascular red blood cell velocity measurement using the image gradient method

An image analysis system is described for the measurement of the blood velocity and the flow profile in microcirculation. It uses a super-high-speed video tape recorder (100 frames/s) and the image gradient method. The measured mean red blood cell velocity of the microvessels (venules having diameters of 15-40 mu m) is 0.7-4.0 mm/s and the measured mean flow volume is 0.7-5.0*10/sup -3/ mm/sup 3//s. A flow chart of the image processing algorithm and results which show the velocity vectors and temporal change of the red blood cell velocity are given.<
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