Michelson Diagnostics’ Dynamic OCT Imaging Technology reveals changes in Skin Blood Vessels in Real-Time

Maidstone, UK, 26 February 2016 – Michelson Diagnostics, a medical device company focused on applications of multi-beam Optical Coherence Tomography (‘OCT’) technology, today announces data showing that its Dynamic OCT imaging technology is able to visualise in real-time the structure of blood vessels beneath the surface of the skin, and the real-time effects of a therapeutic agent on this vasculature. This breakthrough imaging development has the potential to assist dermatologists in the detection and prognosis of melanoma as well as monitoring the effectiveness of treatments for multiple skin conditions, including port wine stains, rosacea, photo-aged skin and scars.

“This significant achievement provides dermatologists with images containing a wealth of information previously unavailable using existing scanning techniques. By integrating the Dynamic OCT technology with our VivoSight point-of-care scanner, we have significantly expanded our potential market segments,” noted Andy Hill, CEO of Michelson Diagnostics. “The study conducted by our colleagues at Roskilde Hospital in Denmark clearly demonstrates the power of Dynamic OCT in visualising blood vessel structures and changes to their appearance following a treatment. Multiple clinical studies continue to further explore the potential of this medical imaging advance.

Data from this validation study, published in The Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, showed statistically significant changes before and after application of brimonidine tartrate (Mirvaso®, Galderma), which correlated with measurements made with other devices (chromametry, LSCI). In 25 of 31 subjects (81%) successfully imaged, Dynamic OCT images showed a distinct change in the pattern of facial blood vessels before-and-after brimonidine. The images showed that after the application of brimonidine, smaller vessels ceased to be visible, leaving only the large and medium sized vessels to be recognized. Furthermore, the remaining larger-sized vessels were found to have a reduced diameter.

“Dynamic OCT brings an entirely new dimension to skin imaging. This new tool will allow us, for the first time, to see blood vessel structures, and changes to them produced by therapeutic agents, in vivo, which is a significant advancement in skin imaging and tissue visualisation,” explained author Professor Gregor Jemec, Professor and Chairman at the Department of Dermatology, Roskilde Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark. “Until now, it has been very difficult to know precisely if a treatment for certain skin complaints has been effective and can be stopped. This technology has the potential to allow us to monitor treatment and show our patients the results in real-time in a similar way to ultrasound and X-ray images.”