Clinical use of NIR laser reflectometry

The potential of optical measurement techniques in the near infrared spectral range becomes increasingly recognized. Continuous wave laser reflectometryis a non-invasive and sensitive method to determine perfusion and oxygenation variations of a specific organ in-vivo. The knowledge of physiological and pathological changes of blood characteristics in body tissues has relevant clinical interest. The improvements of optical and electronic devices offer new possibilities to design reliable and precise instruments to satisfy medical users demand. The results of a collaboration between instrumental designer and physicians are presented. A new method for measuring skeletal muscle oxygenation during exercise and evaluating rehabilitation effects was developed. Two laser diodes generate the wavelengths to select oxygenated and deoxygenatedhemoglobin and a fiber optic probe connects the instrument to the patient.