Patent ID: 8463348

Claim:
A method for determining cerebral tissue oxygenation in a patient comprising the steps of: 1) generating at least first and second jugular venous output signals of change in blood volume over time using at least one photodetector based on the reflection of at least first and second wavelengths of light from at least one light source, respectively, applied to the neck of the patient, wherein the output signal is current or voltage; 2) obtaining corresponding first and second cardiac arterial output signals of change in blood volume over time using a pulse oximeter for the first and second wavelengths of light, respectively, from the patient, wherein the output signal is current or voltage, and subtracting the first and second cardiac arterial output signals from the first and second jugular venous output signals, respectively, to generate first and second cerebral venous output signals, and 3) determining cerebral tissue oxygenation based on the first and second cerebral venous output signals using a processor.