Uncooled Infrared Camera for the Noninvasive Visualization of the Vascular Flow in an Anastomotic Vessel during Neurological Surgery: Technical Note

We herein present our experience to assess intraoperative confirmation of vascular patency with an uncooled infrared camera in extracranial-intracranial (EC-IC) bypass surgery. This camera had distinguishing characteristics, including its small size, light weight, and adequate temperature resolution (< 0.022 degrees). We used a simplified zoom germanium lens as a preliminary study to verify the potential of using this camera to assess the vascular flow of the end-to-side anastomosis model in rats. In addition, we evaluated the vascular flow in continuous clinical series using this infrared camera during EC-IC bypass in 14 patients (17 sides). This infrared camera offers real-time information on the vascular patency of end-to-side anastomosis vessels of all relevant diameters. The spatial resolution and image quality are satisfactory, and the procedure can be safely repeatable. We have shown that the infrared camera could be a new and feasible technology for intraoperative imaging of the vascular flow and is considered to be clinically useful during cerebrovascular surgery.