Holographic interferometry of cerebral pulsations

Holographic interferometry is a noninvasive method used to analyze the mechanical displacement affecting an object undergoing deformation. This technique has been primarily applied to inanimate entities owing to the difficulty in producing stress forces in living subjects. In this report, the possibility of harnessing cerebral pulsations as a displacement force to produce interferograms in neurosurgical patients was studied.

This work evaluates the application of this technology to patients with areas of calvarial defects. Using a pulse ruby laser, holographic interferograms were created in neurosurgical patients with areas of calvarial loss. The cardiac cycle was used to trigger the firing of the laser.

The holographic interferograms were accurate up to within 0.5 mm in outlining the region of bony deficiency.

Holographic interferometry imaging was successfully accomplished using cerebral pulsations as a cyclic displacement-producing force. This method accurately outlined the area of bony loss. A discussion of this technology is included.