Inventors:
Sridhar Gorti - Woodbridge VA
International Classification:
A61B 5026
Abstract:
A non-invasive, non-traumatic technology for measuring continuously the blood flow and volume at precise depths within tissues is presented. The new methodology makes use of 1) a long-wavelength visible laser or semiconductor laser light delivered at a variable incidence angle for triangulating onto a specific region under investigation, 2) a lens system which magnifies the area illuminated by the laser light as it propagates within the tissue, 3) a translating optical fiber or a linear array of optical fibers that collect the back scattered photons emanating from the surface of the tissue along the expected trajectory of the laser light propagating within the tissue, 4) a photo diode or a photo multiplier, or a bank of photo diodes or photo multipliers that amplify and convert the back scattered photons into electrical signals, 5) a system for collectively or selectively monitoring both the static and dynamic properties of the back scattered photons, and 6) an algorithm or algorithms which determine not only the location, volume and velocities of blood flow at precise depths within the tissue, but may also determine the thickness as well as the elasticity of the tissues above the region(s) where blood flow first occurs. Furthermore, this newly developed technology can also provide a 2-dimensional map of the blood flow regions within tissues in terms of depth and blood flow characteristics.
