Tissue Oxygenation Probe with Sculpted Visible and NIR Light
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detecting tissue oxygenation and circulatory shock are indirect, non-definitive, and slow, lacking sensitivity and specificity, which can lead to delayed diagnosis and inappropriate treatment.
Innovation Solution
A non-invasive system using a probe with both visible and near-infrared light sources to measure muscle oxygenation, where the visible light flux is greater than the near-infrared flux, allowing for continuous monitoring and early detection of circulatory shock by calculating myoglobin and hemoglobin saturation levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If pulse oximetry is used to monitor oxygenation, then arterial blood oxygenation can be determined, but it cannot provide information about tissue oxygenation and is not viable when pulsatile flow is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the measurement from reliance on pulsatile flow signals and instead uses continuous monitoring of light absorption at multiple wavelengths to directly measure tissue oxygenation through myoglobin and hemoglobin saturation, making it applicable in bypass surgery and other low-pulsatile-flow conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The system measures both arterial blood oxygenation and tissue oxygenation simultaneously using the same probe and methodology, enabling universal application across different clinical scenarios including cardiac surgery, shock monitoring, and peripheral vascular disease assessment
2Reliability
If indirect methods are used to detect circulatory shock, then diagnosis can be made, but the methods are slow and non-definitive leading to delayed treatment
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors tissue oxygenation parameters in real-time, establishing baseline values and detecting deviations before clinical shock symptoms manifest, enabling early intervention and preventing progression to severe shock
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces indirect mechanical assessment methods (vital signs monitoring, physical examination) with direct optical measurement of tissue oxygenation using near-infrared spectroscopy, providing definitive and immediate diagnostic information
3Reliability
If excessive oxygen therapy is administered to prevent inadequate oxygenation, then patient safety improves, but long-term lung injury can result
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides continuous feedback on actual tissue oxygenation levels, enabling dynamic adjustment of supplemental oxygen therapy to maintain optimal saturation ranges and prevent both hypoxia and oxygen toxicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent monitors multiple parameters including myoglobin saturation, hemoglobin saturation, and tissue oxygen tension to comprehensively assess tissue oxygenation status and guide precise oxygen therapy dosing
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables rapid and accurate detection of muscle oxygenation and circulatory shock, differentiating between mild, moderate, and severe shock, facilitating timely intervention and optimizing patient outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
The sensor emits a red light and an infrared (IR) light sequentially through the patient, and detects the resulting light transmitted through the patient
Implementation Method 2
The changing absorbance of each of the two wavelengths as the heart beats is measured and used to determine the oxygenation of the pulsing arterial blood alone
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for noninvasively determining the oxygenation of a tissue, for example, a muscle, in vivo uses optical methods to optically interrogate the tissue in both a visible wavelength range and a near infrared (NIR) wavelength range. The illuminating light is sculpted in intensity to approximately match the absorbance spectrum, for example, with the visible light having an intensity an order of magnitude greater than the NIR light. Training data is obtained from healthy patients in both the visible and NIR ranges simultaneously and used to calculate muscle oxygenation.