Patent ID: 8285353

Claim:
A computer for measuring a rate of tissue perfusion using time-series analysis of fluorescence images of indocyanine green (ICG), comprising: 1) an input module configured to receive signals from a photodetector, 2) a numerical conversion module configured to process input signals from the input module into numerical values, said input signals comprising intensities of fluorescence over time in a region of interest, 3) a rate calculation module configured to calculate rates of tissue perfusion with using the numerical values and an equation representing dynamics of the ICG, and 4) an output module configured to output results of the calculation, wherein the equation representing dynamics of the ICG is either FI isc = PA P - 1 ⁢ / ⁢ τ ⁢ ( ⅇ - t τ - ⅇ - Pt ) ⁢ ⁢ or ⁢ - In ⁢ ⁢ τ - T max τ = InP - PT max , wherein the FI isc (Fluorescence Intensity ischemia) is an intensity of ICG fluorescence of a measurement target tissue, the P is a rate of tissue perfusion, the A is an intensity of fluorescence obtained from ICG image during the first 1 minute, the τ is t 1/2 /ln2, the t 1/2 is a time at which the intensity of ICG fluorescence is half of a highest value and the T max is a time at which the intensity of ICG fluorescence in an ischemic tissue is highest.