A critical review of laser Doppler flowmetry

Laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) is now a well-established, non-invasive technique for measuring microvascular blood perfusion. However, there are a number of factors which can seriously affect the interpretation of the laser Doppler signal which are often not considered during routine use. These include: consideration of signal processing limitations, choice of processing bandwidth, problems with motion artefact and instrument calibration, the effect of probe pressure on the skin, and the type of laser used. This paper reviews many of the problems and limitations frequently encountered using the laser Doppler technique.