Duke University

Frans F Jobsis

Ronald F Overaker

Johannes H Keizer

Hans H Keizer

Means are provided for securing to the human body a light source housing and a light detector housing used for monitoring metabolism, said means comprising sockets adapted to fit over the housings and having tab members adapted to be adhesively secured to the body to maintain the respective light source and light detector housings in spaced relation on the body and further comprising a light-shielded pad fitted over said sockets and adhered to the body to provide light shielding for the light source and light detector confined in said housings.

Body-mounted light source-detector apparatus

A mounting structure secures to a selected portion of the human body, e.g., the head, a limb, or the torso, and incorporates light source and light detecting means adapted for association with spectrophotometric circuitry for in situ, in vivo monitoring of local metabolism in the area of the body where the structure is secured.

Apparatus for monitoring metabolism in body organs

A spectrophotometric transillumination method and apparatus are directed to non-invasive, continuous, atraumatic, in vivo, in situ monitoring of metabolism in a body organ. In the described applications, measuring and reference wavelengths within the near infrared region, i.e., 700-1300 nm, are utilized for non-invasive, continuous, atraumatic, in situ, in vivo monitoring of oxidative metabolism by monitoring oxygen sufficiency in an internal organ, e.g., the brain or heart, of a human or animal body. Advantage is taken of the critical characteristic of cellular enzyme cytochrome a, a.sub.3 within the optical path and within the radiated portion of the selected organ for absorbing the selected measuring wavelength and for light of this measuring wavelength, as well as at least one reference wavelength within the same defined infrared region and at a low, non-hazardous level of intensity to travel through and be detectable at the end of a relatively long path, e.g., of several centimeters length, which may include substantial content of bone as well as soft tissue. The selection of wavelengths, circuitry and method also provide techniques for compensating for changes in blood volume in the organ being monitored, for continuous monitoring of hemoglobin oxygenation and blood volume and for intermittent monitoring of blood flow rate.

Method and apparatus for monitoring metabolism in body organs

A spectrophotometric method, apparatus and reflectance technique is directed to non-invasive, harmless, continuous, atraumatic, in vivo, in situ monitoring of metabolism in a body organ utilizing measuring and reference wavelengths within the near infrared region, i.e., 700-1300 nm. Monitoring of oxidative metabolism is accomplished by monitoring oxygen sufficiency in an organ, normally an internal vital organ, e.g., the brain or heart, of a living human or animal body. Advantage is taken of the critical characteristic of cellular enzyme cytochrome a, a.sub.3 within the optical path and within the radiated portion of the selected organ from which the light so reflected for absorbing the selected measuring wavelength and for light of this measuring wavelength, as well as at least one reference wavelength within the same defined infrared region and at a low, non-hazardous level of intensity to travel to the organ, be reflected and be detectable at a point spaced from the point of entry and at the end of a relatively long path, e.g., of several centimeters length, which may include substantial content of bone as well as soft tissue. The method corrects for skin blood flow effects, variations in laser diode output and variations in metabolic and circulatory parameters during measuring.

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Durham, NC, United States of America

Frans F Jobsis