Non-ergodicity and noise-corrected diffuse speckle contrast analysis in deep tissue blood flow measurement
Jiachi Hong1, Wenting Zhu1, Bowen Zhao1
1Britton Chance Center and MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Advanced Biomedical Imaging Facility, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China.
Biomedical Optics Express
|March 2, 2026
Summary
This study introduces a new method to improve diffuse speckle contrast analysis (DSCA) for blood flow speed measurement. The enhanced DSCA technique increases accuracy and sensitivity, especially for deep tissue imaging.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Optics
- Medical Imaging
- Physiology
Background:
- Diffuse speckle contrast analysis (DSCA) measures blood flow speed.
- Accuracy is limited by system noise and non-ergodicity, especially in deep tissues.
- Overestimated contrast leads to underestimated flow speed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an improved DSCA method for enhanced accuracy and sensitivity.
- To address limitations of noise and non-ergodicity in DSCA.
- To provide guidance for multi-mode fiber DSCA parameter selection.
Main Methods:
- Developed a noise correction method integrated with a non-ergodicity calibrated model.
- Provided a guide for selecting core diameter and numerical aperture for multi-mode fiber DSCA.
- Validated the method using phantom and in vivo experiments.
Main Results:
- The noise and non-ergodicity corrected DSCA significantly improved sensitivity.
- Enhanced accuracy in blood flow speed measurements was achieved.
- Deep tissue measurements showed marked improvement.
Conclusions:
- The developed DSCA method overcomes limitations of noise and non-ergodicity.
- This technique offers more sensitive and accurate blood flow speed measurements.
- The findings are crucial for deep tissue optical imaging applications.
