Patent ID: 7065392

Claim:
An apparatus for evaluating biological function comprising: light irradiation means for irradiating light to a specified site of a living body; light detection means for detecting light exiting from the living body; calculation means for determining respective changes in concentration of oxygenated hemoglobin and deoxygenated hemoglobin by performing calculations in near infrared spectroscopy on the intensity of the light detected by said light detection means, and for calculating a parameter for deciding whether the concentration of oxygenated hemoglobin and deoxygenated hemoglobin of said specified site of the living body are predominantly capillary data, based on said respective changes in concentration of oxygenated hemoglobin and deoxyenated hemoglobin; decision means for deciding whether the concentration of oxygenated hemoglobin and deoxygenated hemoglobin of said specified site of the living body are predominantly capillary data by means of said calculated parameter; and display means for displaying information concerning said parameter over time.