Patent ID: 8622918

Claim:
A method for assessing viability of flap tissue, the method comprising: positioning a sensor head of a probe at a first location of the flap tissue, wherein the probe comprises a cable having a connector adapted to be removably coupled to a console, the sensor head comprises a first source structure and first detector structure, the first source structure and first detector structure are positioned on a planar surface of the sensor head, and a beam combiner is external to the probe; causing a first light signal to be transmitted through a first optical fiber in the probe to the first source structure and into the flap tissue; after the causing the first light signal, and without repositioning the sensor head of the probe, allowing the first detector structure to receive a reflection of the first light signal from the flap tissue, the reflection being a second light signal; and enabling transmitting of the second light signal from the first detector structure through a second optical fiber in the probe to the connector adapted to be removably coupled to the console, whereby the console, based on the first and second light signals, causes a screen of the console to display a first indication of an oxygen saturation level representative of the first location of the flap tissue, whereby the console causes a second indication of the oxygen saturation level representative of the first location of the flap tissue as being greater than a predetermined oxygen saturation level, indicative of a viability of the flap tissue, and whereby the console causes a third indication of the oxygen saturation level representative of the first location of the flap tissue as being less than the predetermined oxygen saturation level, indicative of a viability of the flap tissue, wherein the third indication is different from the second indication.