Evaluation of peripheral artery disease with the TIVITA® Tissue hyperspectral imaging camera system.

Background: Objective, reliable and easy screening for peripheral artery disease (PAD) is essential to confirm the diagnosis and initiate the respective treatment. Therefore, a new non-invasive hyperspectral camera (TIVITA® Tissue) was tested in patients with and without PAD.

Objective: It was hypothesized that the oxygenation parameters of the TIVITA® Tissue correlate to established modalities for detection of PAD and allow differentiation between individuals with and without PAD.

Methods: Evaluation of tissue oxygenation was performed in the angiosome of the medial plantar artery in 25 healthy young people and in 24 patients with and 25 patients without PAD in comparable age. Thereby, superficial oxygenation (StO2) and near-infrared (NIR) perfusion index were measured with the TIVITA® Tissue. Additionally, the ankle-brachial-index (ABI), the complaint free walking distance and the vascular quality of life were assessed and demographic data were obtained from all participants.

Results: TIVITA® Tissue analysis revealed significantly reduced StO2 and NIR perfusion index in PAD compared to healthy young participants and patients without PAD. StO2 and NIR perfusion index positively correlated with ABI, the complaint free walking distance and the vascular quality of life score.

Conclusions: In summary, this new hyperspectral imaging camera bears great potential for PAD screening as well as for follow up.