Innovative Skin-Based Imaging Technology Offers New Possibilities in Cardiovascular Diagnostics

fast-RSOM captures high-resolution, single-capillary images of skin microvasculature noninvasively using rapid raster scanning, enabling potential bedside assessment for earlier detection of microvascular dysfunction and improved cardiovascular risk identification.

This system advances prior cutaneous photoacoustic approaches by pairing faster scan times with finer spatial resolution. In a single-center human pilot, investigators achieved single-capillary visualization and identified early dynamic microvascular biomarkers that merit validation in larger cohorts.

The technique converts pulsed light absorption into ultrasound signals to create high‑contrast maps of capillary networks. It quantifies vessel density, capillary morphology, flow proxies, and oxygenation-related contrast—features that reflect endothelial function and can reveal microcirculatory rarefaction linked to early cardiovascular pathology well before clinical symptoms appear.

The noninvasive, repeatable nature of the scan supports serial assessments and point‑of‑care workflows that could inform earlier preventive decisions for primary care clinicians and preventive cardiologists.

Feasible next steps are larger multicenter studies, head‑to‑head comparisons with established risk markers and outcomes, and parallel development of training and reimbursement strategies to enable scalable implementation.

Key Takeaways:

• fast-RSOM provides noninvasive, single-capillary resolution of skin microvessels to detect early cardiovascular risk.
• Primary affected groups include preventive cardiologists, primary care clinicians, and high‑risk patients.
• Next steps include multicenter validation, comparative studies with standard risk markers, and development of reimbursement and training pathways.