Standard laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) requires application of a probe directly onto tissue for blood flow measurement. Repeated surgical exposures are necessary for assessments over time, making nonanaesthetized measurements unfeasible. Implantable fibres offer a method of assessing tissue perfusion without surgical reexposure and additional time expenditure. Prior in vivo studies showed that first generation implantable LDF fibres experienced early fatigue failure due to their percutaneous exit site, predisposing them to trauma. A second generation of implantable fibres has been developed with silastic coatings to improve durability.
