Chroma-Memo-Flow technique for rapid sequential analysis of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) responses

This is the first report of a method of sequential regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) analysis, called Croma-Memo-Flow. This technique is a computerized modification of the initial slope method of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF init.), allowing temporal resolution of the flow pattern by calculation of the slopes of sequential segments of the initial 1-2 minutes of the Xenon-133 washout curve. The same theoretical analysis applies to this method as to the rCBF init. method. Each flow calculation is based on the slope of a discrete 16 second segment of the initial washout; and each second the segment is advanced by one second. A new flow calculation is made each second and is displayed as a color coded map on a TV screen. Each map is labelled, indicating the time in seconds following Xenon injection, and sequential rCBF changes during the clearance period can be immediately visualized. This allows for almost instantaneous analysis and display of rapid or transient rCBF responses to activation and deactivation of the cerebral cortices. The data is stored in a 35 channel memory for deliberate replay, photography, and analysis. Functional tests may be applied during the initial washout period and both the magnitude and chronological relationships of the evoked regional cerebrovascular responses observed. A clinical study is presented to illustrate the possibilities of applying the technique to assess cortical reactivity.