Cardiac functional analysis by laser speckle interferometry

The laser speckle interference pattern during movement of a rough surface is employed to measure the respective displacements. The purpose of this work is to apply this technique in the form of laser speckle displacement cardiography to analyse the displacement patterns during the I and II heart sounds. The recording is performed by illuminating the chest over the cardiac region by collimated laser beam controlled by an ECG operated electric shutter. By analysis the 3-D displacement patterns are obtained. A comparison shows that the displacement at the apex, right ventricle, aortic and mitral valvular regions are significantly higher during I sound than that of II sound. © 1989.