Project Title:

Near IR Spectrometer for Tissue Oxygenation Measurement

  94-1	15.03	5225

  Near IR Spectrometer for Tissue Oxygenation Measurement

Abstract:

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project aims to 
develop compact and low cost instruments to measure tissue 
oxygenation based on near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. NIR light 
in the .7-1.1 um range penetrates human tissue to a depth of 
several centimeters, and is attenuated during transmission by 
oxyhemoglobin, deoxyhemoglobin, melanin, water and cytochrome 
aa3, each with its own characteristic absorption spectrum. NIR 
absorption spectroscopy offers a number of advantages in 
comparison with other oxygen measurement modalities: it is non-
invasive, uses non-ionizing radiation, offers high spatial and 
temporal resolution, and supplies new types of metabolic and 
functional information for low cost, rapid bedside diagnostic 
procedures. The Phase I project will determine the most practical 
means to implement a hand-held NIR spectroscopic oxygenation 
monitor, specify the components needed, define the measurement 
method and assess the practicality of the instrument for Phase 
II development.

This technology has applications for determining tissue 
oxygenation of brains, skeletal muscle and organs. Brain and 
heart oxygenation images have been demonstrated. Perfusion can 
be measured with this instrument as well as cellular metabolism. 
The instrument's small size and low power makes possible a 
handheld device which can localize brain hemotomas in the 
ambulance, emergency room or bedside as a precheck before sending 
a patient to an expensive Magnetic Resonance Imaging or Computed 
Tomography. Market research indicates a > $400M market for tissue 
oxygenation monitors by 2000. This market corresponds to over 
1800 jobs by 2000, assuming $250k/employee.

Key Words

Photonics Research Incorporated
2402 Clover Basin Dr, Suite A
Longmont CO 80503