Bimodal imaging of functional changes in blood flow using optoacoustic and optical coherent angiography

The results of a complementary study of functional changes of the blood flow in human superficial tissues using optoacoustic (OA) microscopy and angiographic optical coherent tomography (OCT-A) during an occlusive test are demonstrated for the first time. OA microscopy data allow one to estimate the increase in blood content during the occlusive test, while OCT-A data demonstrate a decrease in the number of vessels with a functioning blood flow in the area of interest. The combined approach reported in the paper can be employed in experimental and clinical medicine to study the functional changes of microcirculation in diagnostics of vascular pathologies of superficial tissues and to evaluate the microcirculation response to treatment.