Patent ID: 6687519
Filing Date: 2004-02-03
Classification: A61B,A61M,G01N

Abstract:
A system for determining tissue water content of a patient, the blood flowing in a pulsatile fashion in a blood conduit in communication with the circulatory system of the patient so as to be subjectable to examination, the system comprising:blood conduit receiving means for receiving a blood conduit containing the flowing blood of the patient; a first emitter positioned on said conduit receiving means for emitting a first radiation wavelength; directing means for directing the first radiation wavelength into the flowing blood in the blood conduit; first detecting means for detecting an amount of first radiation after passing through the blood conduit, said detected amount of first radiation having at least one extinction characteristic; and determining means for receiving said first radiation from said first detecting means for determining tissue water content by using a single wavelength of approximately 1300 nm to solve the equation [(Xwi/Xwt)âˆ’1]Ã—100, where, Xwi equals the initial volume of water per volume of tissue at time 0 and Xwt equals the volume of water per volume of tissue at time t.