U.S. patent application number 14/196725 was filed with the patent office on 2014-09-04 for in vivo blood spectrometry.
The applicant listed for this patent is Peter Bernreuter. Invention is credited to Peter Bernreuter.
Application Number | 20140249390 14/196725 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37683708 |
Filed Date | 2014-09-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140249390 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bernreuter; Peter |
September 4, 2014 |
IN VIVO BLOOD SPECTROMETRY
Abstract
A process and apparatus for determining the arterial and venous
oxygenation of blood in vivo with improved precision. The optical
properties of tissue are measured by determination of differential
and total attenuations of light at a set of wavelengths. By
choosing distinct wavelengths and using the measured attenuations,
the influence of variables such as light scattering, absorption and
other optical tissue properties is canceled out or minimized.
Inventors: |
Bernreuter; Peter;
(Dettingen, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Bernreuter; Peter |
Dettingen |
|
DE |
|
|
Family ID: |
37683708 |
Appl. No.: |
14/196725 |
Filed: |
March 4, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12946506 |
Nov 15, 2010 |
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14196725 |
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11078399 |
Mar 14, 2005 |
7865223 |
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12946506 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
600/315 ;
600/316; 600/323; 600/328; 600/331; 600/336; 600/340 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 5/1464 20130101;
A61B 5/14551 20130101; A61B 5/6826 20130101; A61B 2562/0242
20130101; A61B 5/14546 20130101; A61B 5/14552 20130101; A61B
5/14532 20130101; A61B 5/14553 20130101; A61B 5/6838 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
600/315 ;
600/323; 600/340; 600/336; 600/316; 600/328; 600/331 |
International
Class: |
A61B 5/1455 20060101
A61B005/1455; A61B 5/145 20060101 A61B005/145 |
Claims
1-25. (canceled)
26. An apparatus for measuring tissue oxygenation comprising: a
sensor interface including at least one emitter configured to emit
light into tissue with at least three wavelengths and at least one
detector configured to receive light scattered by the tissue; and a
processor coupled to the sensor interface and configured to
calculate tissue oxygenation using the at least three wavelengths,
the tissue oxygenation corresponding to venous blood oxygenation,
the processor further configured to compensate for influence of
varying optical tissue properties which are exponentially
decreasing with increasing wavelength.
27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the processor is configured
to read coded information corresponding to the sensor interface and
configured to use the coded information in calculating tissue
oxygenation.
28. An apparatus comprising: a sensor interface configured for
coupling to a forehead of a person, the sensor interface including
at least one light emitter configured to emit at least three
different wavelengths of light into tissue, the sensor interface
including at least two detectors configured to detect scattered
light, the sensor interface having an emitter-detector distance of
at least 2 cm; a processor coupled to the sensor interface and
configured to calculate at least two light attenuations LAwsj which
depend on detected light for selected wavelength wsj for the at
least two detectors; and a display device coupled to the processor
and configured for displaying tissue oxygenation corresponding to
venous blood and for displaying arterial blood oxygenation based on
pulse oximetry, the tissue oxygenation based on the least two light
attenuations LAwsj.
29. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the processor is configured
to compensate for influence of varying optical tissue properties
which are exponentially decreasing with increasing wavelength, and
wherein the sensor interface includes an electrode configured for
contacting a skin of the person, and wherein the sensor interface
is coupled to an encoder, the encoder configured to store coded
information about a wavelength of the sensor interface and
configured to store the emitter-detector distance.
30. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the at least one light
emitter includes an LED and a demultiplexer, wherein an emitter
timing is controlled by the demultiplexer.
31. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the display device is
configured to display a value that corresponds to oxygen extraction
based on arterial oxygenation and venous oxygenation.
32. The apparatus of claim 28 in which at least one light emitter
emits at about 660 nm.
33. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the processor is configured
to determine arterial blood oxygenation based on at least one light
path between the at least one light emitter and one of the at least
two detectors, wherein the at least one light path is less than 2
cm.
34. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the at least one light
emitter emits light at wavelengths of about wb1=740 nm and wb2=805
nm.
35. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the at least one light
emitter emits light at a wavelength of about wb3=660 nm.
36. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the at least one light
emitter include an LED configured to emit light into the
tissue.
37. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the light attenuations LAwsj
are configured to reduce the dependency of the output for tissue
oxygenation on Hb and blood content.
38. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the processor is configured
to calculate a value corresponding to a difference of arterial
blood oxygenation and tissue oxygenation.
39. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the display device is
configured to display a pulse rate.
40. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the display device is
configured to display a blood constituent including
carboxyhemoglobin, methemoglobin, glucose in blood, Hb, SvO2, SaO2,
or bilirubin.
41. An apparatus for measuring tissue oxygenation comprising: a
sensor interface adapted to be coupled to the forehead of a person
and including at least one light emitter and configured to emit
light into tissue at at least three different wavelengths and
having at least two detectors configured for detecting scattered
light, wherein a detector-emitter distance is at least 2 cm, the
sensor interface having an electrode configured for contacting a
skin of the person; a processor coupled to the sensor interface and
configured to calculate at least two light attenuations LAwsj which
depend on detected light for selected wavelength wsj for the two
detectors; and a display device coupled to the processor and
configured for displaying an output for tissue oxygenation
corresponding to venous blood, the output based on the light
attenuations LAwsj.
42. The apparatus of claim 41 wherein the electrode is configured
to detect an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal.
43. The apparatus of claim 41 wherein the sensor interface is
configured for fixation to the forehead using medical glue, a
fixation band, and a disposable sensor holder.
44. An apparatus for measuring tissue oxygenation comprising: a
sensor interface including at least one emitter and at least one
detector, the at least one emitter configured to emit light into
tissue with at least three wavelengths and the at least one
detector to receive light scattered by the tissue; a processor
configured to calculate tissue oxygenation corresponding to venous
oxygenation; a sensor encoder configured to store coded information
about a wavelength of the sensor interface; and wherein the
processor is configured to reduce an error associated with varying
sensor hardware.
45. The apparatus of claim 44 wherein the sensor encoder is
configured to store coded information about calibration of sensor
geometry.
46. An apparatus for measuring tissue oxygenation comprising: a
sensor interface including at least one emitter configured to emit
light into tissue with at least three wavelengths and at least one
detector to receive light scattered by the tissue; a processor
configured to calculate tissue oxygenation corresponding to venous
oxygenation; a sensor encoder configured to store coded information
about calibration of sensor geometry; and wherein the processor is
configured to reduce an error associated with varying sensor
hardware.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 12/946,506, filed Nov. 15, 2010, which is a
continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/078,399, filed
Mar. 14, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,865,223, issued on Jan. 4, 2011,
which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates to a process and apparatus for
increasing the accuracy of optical in vivo measurements of blood
constituents in tissue, such as arterial oxygenation.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] A standard method to measure the arterial oxygenation of
blood is known as pulse oximetry.
[0006] Pulse oximeters function on the basis that at differing
wavelengths, blood attenuates light very differently depending upon
the level of oxygenation. Pulse waves starting from the heart cause
in the arterial blood vessel system a periodic fluctuation in the
arterial blood content in the tissue. As a consequence, a periodic
change in the light absorption (FIG. 1) can be registered between
the light transmitter, whose radiation passes through the tissue,
and the receivers, which are integrated in a pulse oximetry sensor.
The evaluation of the sensor signals is normally carried out at
light wavelengths of w1=660 and w2=940 nm by calculating the
differential change of light absorption at times t1 and t2. It is
possible to create a measured variable R which is obtained in the
following manner or in a similar manner:
Rw 1 , w 2 = ln ( It 1 , w 1 ) - ln ( It 2 , w 1 ) ln ( It 1 , w 2
) - ln ( It 2 , w 2 ) ( 1 ) ##EQU00001##
[0007] The light intensities described in the formula represent the
light intensities received in the receiver of the sensors used in
pulse oximetry. The measured variable R serves as a measurement for
the oxygen saturation. The formation of a quotient in order to form
the measured variable is intended to compensate for any possible
influences the haemoglobin content of the tissue, the pigmentation
of the skin or the pilosity may have on the measurement of the
oxygen saturation of arterial blood. The difference of the light
attenuations at a minimum and maximum value is the delta of the
light attenuations for each of both wavelengths.
[0008] Measuring oxygen saturation of arterial blood in the tissue
in a range of 70 to 100% using light of wavelength 940 nm and 660
nm most often produces for one single application site sufficiently
accurate measured values. However, in order to measure lower oxygen
saturation of arterial blood it is necessary to assume a strong
influence on the measured variable R in particular caused by
perfusion (i.e. blood content) (see: IEEE; Photon Diffusion
Analysis of the Effects of Multiple Scattering on Pulse Oximetry by
J. M. Schmitt; 1991) and other optical parameters of tissue.
[0009] Rall, U.S. Pat. No. 5,529,064, describes a fetal pulse
oximetry sensor. For this kind of application, a higher measurement
precision is desirable because a fetus has a physiological lower
oxygenation than adult human beings and measurement error of
SaO.sub.2 increases at low oxygenations.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 6,226,540 to Bernreuter, incorporated by
reference herein, improves the precision of pulse oximetry.
However, in order to measure on different body sites with the same
high resolution for the arterial oxygenation, additional precision
to measure optical tissue properties is necessary. Another problem
is that pulse oximetry alone does not provide sufficient diagnostic
information to monitor critically ill patients (See: When Pulse
Oximetry Monitoring of the Critically III is Not Enough by Brian F.
Keogh in Anesth Analg (2002), 94: 96-99).
[0011] Because of this it would be highly desirable to be able to
additionally measure the mixed venous oxygenation of blood
SVO.sub.2. Methods to measure SvO.sub.2 with NIR were described by
Jobsis in U.S. Pat. No. 4,223,680 and by Hirano et al in U.S. Pat.
No. 5,057,695. A problem of those disclosed solutions is that hair,
dirt or other optically non-transparent material on the surface of
tissue can influence the measured results for SvO.sub.2.
[0012] To measure the metabolism of blood oxygenation, Anderson et
al in U.S. Pat. No. 5,879,294 disclose an instrument in which the
second derivative of the light spectrum used delivers information
about the oxygenation. Hereby, the influence of light scattering in
tissue is minimized, which can result in higher measurement
precision. A disadvantage of this solution that the calibration of
the optical instruments is complicated and expensive, which makes
it impractical to use such devices for sports activity
applications, where light weight wearable devices would be of
interest. Similar problems are known for frequency domain
spectroscopy disclosed for example in Gratton, U.S. Pat. No.
4,840,485. Oximetry devices, which are described in the present
specification and which simply measure light attenuations of tissue
at different wavelengths, are more feasible, flexible and reliable
in practice than complex time resolved methods.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the invention
are:
[0014] a) to provide a device that measures the arterial
oxygenation of blood in tissue at a certain application site with
improved precision;
[0015] b) to provide a device that measures the arterial
oxygenation blood in tissue at different application sites with
improved precision;
[0016] c) to provide a device that measures the mixed venous or
venous oxygenation blood in tissue with improved precision;
[0017] d) to provide a device that measures the mixed venous or
venous and arterial oxygenation blood in tissue with improved
precision with only one sensor;
[0018] e) to provide a device that measures the mixed venous or
venous oxygenation blood in tissue with improved precision without
complicated empirical calibration;
[0019] f) to provide an inexpensive device that measures the mixed
venous or venous oxygenation blood in tissue with improved
precision;
[0020] g) to provide an inexpensive device that can directly
measure oxygen extraction of tissue at the application site;
and
[0021] h) to provide an inexpensive, wearable device that measures
oxygenation of tissue.
[0022] There are various fields of application where the invention
can be used with benefit. For example for sports activity
applications, a light weight, small and inexpensive device to track
the oxygen metabolism would be of interest.
[0023] Critically ill persons would benefit by continuous and more
detailed diagnostic information of their physiological
condition.
[0024] Newborns would benefit from better care if arterial
oxygenation could be measured e.g. on the back instead on the feet
where unintentional alarms more often occur due to motion effects.
A higher precision of pulse oximetry could improve ventilation of
newborns, and precision of fetal pulse oximetry where a high
resolution of the arterial oxygenation is needed, could be improved
as well (See U.S. Pat. No. 6,226,540).
[0025] In accordance with invention, a device utilizes a
combination of light emitters and detectors with:
[0026] a light wavelength combination with more than two
wavelengths, where the peak spectrum of a third wavelength is about
the geometric mean value of the first and second wavelengths;
[0027] multiple detectors and emitters which eliminate influences
on calibration by subtracting and adding measured light
attenuations;
[0028] a model-based calibration calculation, which improves
precision of measured output variables.
[0029] As a result, influences on the calibration of different
issue properties can be minimized in order to measure arterial or
venous or the combination of arterial and venous oxygenation. It
has been discovered that by choosing one of the wavelengths as a
geometric mean value of two other wavelengths, variations due to
scattering can be reduced. Additional determination of light
attenuation can reduce measurement errors because of variations of
light absorption due to different tissue composition, i.e.,
variations of relative amounts of muscle, skin, fat, bone, etc.
[0030] It is noted that as used in the present specification,
"venous" and "mixed venous" are synonyms, "attenuation" refers to
absolute or differential attenuation, "tissue oxygenation" refers
to arterial, mixed venous, or venous oxygenation or a combination
thereof, and the phrase "about" in reference to wavelengths
quantifies in a range of +/-80 nm, and in reference to distance
quantifies in a range of +/-2 cm.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0031] FIG. 1 is a graph showing changes of light absorption by
blood over time;
[0032] FIG. 2 is a graph illustrating the dependency of arterial
oxygen saturation on the measurement variable R for different
optical tissue properties;
[0033] FIG. 3 shows a reflectance oximetry sensor according to the
invention in schematic cross-section;
[0034] FIG. 4 shows a finger clip sensor according to the invention
in schematic cross-section;
[0035] FIG. 5 is a diagram of a multidimensional calibration of
oxygenation for the two measuring variables R1, R2 vs.
SaO.sub.2;
[0036] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an oximetry system in
operation;
[0037] FIG. 7 is a side view of a fetal scalp sensor according to
the invention;
[0038] FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the sensor of FIG. 7;
[0039] FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the sensor of FIG. 3;
[0040] FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view of a variation of the
sensor of FIG. 3;
[0041] FIG. 11 is a side cross-sectional view of another variation
of the sensor of FIG. 3;
[0042] FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the sensor of FIG. 11;
[0043] FIG. 12a is a bottom view of a sensor;
[0044] FIGS. 13-14 are side cross-sectional views of reflectance
sensors fixed on the forehead;
[0045] FIG. 15 shows a system for determining cardiac output;
[0046] FIG. 16 shows person with wrist worn display and sensor
applications on different sites of the body;
[0047] FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram of a hardware processing unit
for an oximetry system according to the invention;
[0048] FIG. 18 is a diagram of a multidimensional calibration of
oxygenation for the two measuring variables Rv1, Rv2 vs. SvO.sub.2;
and
[0049] FIG. 19 is a flow chart illustrating signal processing flow
for a model-based determination of oxygen in blood.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0050] The diagram of FIG. 1 shows the fundamental effect on which
pulse oximetry and comparable methods to determine arterial blood
oxygenation are based. When measuring light absorption of tissue in
vivo light absorption changes synchronously with every heart cycle.
The diagram illustrates the change of light absorption versus time,
which is caused by arterial pulsations that can be measured while
systole and diastole. During systole and diastole the pressure on
the arterial vessel system varies from 80 mmHg to 120 mmHg. The
change of light absorption is called the AC-signal. The DCsignal,
the time-invariant part of light absorption, is caused by the
non-pulsating part of the arterial blood, the venous blood, bone,
hair, tissue and other constant absorbing constituents versus time.
The time-invariant signal is the basis for the calculation of the
mixed venous oxygenation of tissue; thus, a major part of the
absorption is caused by venous blood and a minor part by arterial
blood.
[0051] FIG. 2 shows two calibration curves in a diagram with
SaO.sub.2 vs. R. Calibration line 42 is only valid for a first
distinct set of optical properties. Calibration line 40 is only
valid for a second distinct set of optical properties. The valid
set of optical properties can be determined by an optical system
illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 6 with a sensor 318, which is placed 5
on tissue 46 and connected via a plug 66 to a display device 64.
Additionally, FIG. 2 shows two horizontal lines at SaO.sub.2=0.6
and at 8a02=0.4 and one vertical line at R=1.4. If an optical
system determines only R without registering the two different sets
of optical properties, this would result in an error of 0.2
SaO.sub.2 (SaO.sub.2 at first set of optical properties--SaO.sub.2
at second set of optical properties). An analogous relation also
exists for the mixed venous saturation of blood SvO.sub.2 and a
measurement variable Rv1 and Rv2 for mixed venous oxygenation (FIG.
18).
[0052] FIG. 3 shows an oximetry sensor 318 on the upper part of the
figure which is placed on tissue 46. The sensor 318 contains two
light emitters 31E, 32E and two light detectors 310, 320. The
arrows A1 through A4 show how light Passes from emitters to
detectors through tissue. A1 stands representative for light which
is emitted in emitter 31E and received in detector 310. A2 is light
emitted in emitter 32E and detected in detector 310. A3 is light
emitted in 31E and received in 320 and A4 is light emitted in
emitter 32E and detected in detector 320.
[0053] FIG. 4 shows a finger clip sensor 54 which is fixed on a
finger 48. The finger clip sensor incorporates emitters 31E, 32E
and detectors 310, 320. The electrical sensor signals of the finger
clip sensor are transmitted via a sensor cable 60. The signals can
also be conveniently transmitted wirelessly by means well known in
the art (not shown).
[0054] FIG. 5 illustrates a multidimensional calibration of
SaO.sub.2 vs. R1 and R2. A certain combination of R1 and R2
corresponds to a data point on the calibration plane, which
indicates the saturation level SaO.sub.2. An analogous relation
also exists in FIG. 18 for the mixed venous saturation of blood
SvO.sub.2 and two related measurement variables Rv1 and Rv2 for
mixed venous oxygenation.
[0055] FIGS. 7 and 8 show a fetal scalp sensor 74 with a set of
emitters 31E, 32E, 33E and 34E and a set of detectors 310, 320, 330
and 340 from side and bottom views, respectively. The sensor can be
fixed on the scalp of the fetus via a spiral needle 76 during
labor. Additionally, an electrocardiogramm (ECG) of the fetus can
be transmitted via the needle 76.
[0056] FIG. 9 is a bottom view of sensor 31S from FIG. 3. Detectors
350 and 360 have a concentric form to maximize reception of light
emitted by the emitters 31E and 32E.
[0057] FIGS. 10-12 show several modifications of sensor 31S. FIG.
10 shows sensor in side view with a flat body where detectors 310,
320 and the emitter 320 are grouped close together and emitter 32E
is positioned far from this group. The sensor can be fixed via a
band 108 on tissue. A light shield 110 minimizes the influence of
ambient light.
[0058] FIG. 11 shows a sensor with a sensor holder 122, while FIG.
12 is a bottom view of sensor of FIG. 11. The bottom side of sensor
holder 122 can be covered with medical glue or adhesive. If sensor
holder 122 is placed on sensor 31S according to FIG. "11 and
applied to tissue 46, fixation is possible by glue on sensor holder
122. Sensor holder 122 can thus be constructed in an inexpensive
and disposable manner. Alternatively, the bottom side of the
sensor, which is applied to tissue, can be directly covered with
glue. The disadvantage of this is that the sensor can not be
reused. The heart rate is detected via ECG-electrode 123 which
contacts the skin.
[0059] FIGS. 13 and 14 show two variations of sensor 32S applied on
the forehead of a person. In the first variation shown in FIG. 13,
sensor 32S is fixed via a band 108 to the forehead. The arrows A32
and A42, which represent how light travels from the emitters 31E,
32E to the detectors 31 and 320, pass through forehead tissue 152
and bone of skull 150 and pass or touch brain 148. The arrows A12
and A22 only pass through forehead tissue 152 and bone of skull
150.
[0060] The second variation of sensor 32S also applied on the
forehead is shown in FIG. 14. The arrows A11, A21, A31 and A41
compared with arrows A12, A22, A32 and A42 of FIG. 13 show that by
variation of the position of light detectors and emitters; oxygen
content can be sensed differently without changing the outline of
the sensor variation used.
[0061] FIG. 15 shows a patient lying on a bed being supplied with
oxygen by an intubation tube 210, and an anaesthesia machine 204.
The anaesthesic machine 204 is connected to the patient and has an
inventive device for measuring oxygen consumption or carbon dioxide
production of the patient. The sensor 32S is placed on the forehead
of the patient, and is connected with oxygen extraction monitoring
device 206, which calculates SaO.sub.2 and SvO.sub.2 and oxygen
extraction. The monitoring device 206 and the anaesthesia machine
204 are linked to a third device 202, which calculates cardiac
output or trend of cardiac output.
[0062] FIG. 16 illustrates the use of oxygen monitoring at
different application sites for sports activity, in which a wrist
worn display device 220 can receive oxygenation data from a
forehead-band-sensor 214, from a chest-band-sensor 224, from an
arm-band-sensor 218 or from a finger-glove-sensor 222.
[0063] FIG. 17 shows the hardware for evaluating oxygenation by
using two emitters 31E and 32E and two detectors 31D and 32D. The
LED-drive 226 energizes the two emitters via lines 238, 248 which
can incorporate coding hardware, to adjust calibration for the
multidimensional calibration or to adjust calibration for varying
emitter detector geometry. The amplifiers AMP1 232 and AMP2 234 are
connected to detectors 31D and 32D. The demultiplexer DEMUX 320
selects each wavelength used in every emitter timed synchronously
according to the switching state of the LED-DRIVE 226 and delivers
the measured data via an AD-Converter AD-CONV. 236 to the CPU
228.
[0064] FIG. 19 illustrates the signal flow of a model-based
calibration. An input processing circuit 260 is the first part of
the signal flow. The processing circuit is connected with a circuit
for calculating light attenuations 262 and a circuit calculating
different measurement variables 264. The calculation for light
attenuations 262 is a basis for a modelbased determination circuit
for mixed venous oxygenation 266 with a joint circuit to output a
value for the mixed venous oxygenation SvO.sub.2 270. A model-based
determination circuit for 20 arterial oxygenation 268 is connected
to the circuit for calculating light attenuations 262 and the
circuit calculating different measurement variables 264. The output
value for a arterial oxygenation circuit for SaO.sub.2 272 is
linked to the model-based calculation for SaO.sub.2 268.
[0065] By using three instead of two wavelengths to measure the
arterial oxygenation, the following approximation can be derived
with the help of diffusion theory. The result of this operation
is:
R ' = Rw 2 , w 1 Rw 1 , w 0 * L A w 2 * L A w 0 L A w 1 * L A w 1 +
Q ( 2 ) ##EQU00002##
[0066] where Rw2, w1 and Rw1, w0 are calculated according to
equation (1) using wavelengths w0, w1, and w2 and Q is a correction
parameter.
[0067] Light attenuation LAwx can be calculated in the following or
similar manner:
Lawx=ln(Iwx/Iwxo) (3)
[0068] LAwx corresponds to the logarithm of the ratio of light
intensity Iwxo which is the emitted and light intensity Iwx the
received light passing through tissue at wavelength wx. The index
following suffix wx indicates the selected wavelength. Graaff et al
showed that scattering in tissue decreases for higher wavelengths
according to exponential functions (see: Applied Optics; Reduced
Light-Scattering Properties for Mixtures of Spherical Particles: A
Simple Approximation Derived from Mie Calculations by R. Graaffi;
1992). Absorption variation may also be taken from other measures
or approximations such as the ac/dc ratio. The amplitude may be any
measure such as peak-to-peak, RMS, average, or cross correlation
coefficient. It may also be derived from other techniques such as
Kalman filtering or a measure of the time derivative of the signal.
Also, while calculations utilizing ratios of absorptions at
different wavelengths are shown, alternate calculations may be used
to give the same or approximately the same results. For instance
the absorptions could be used directly, without calculating the
ratios.
[0069] A preferred selection of the wavelengths combination to
reduce the influence of scattering is defined by the following
equation, with wavelength w1 as the geometrical mean value of
wavelength w0 and wavelength w2, defined as:
w1= (w0*w2) (4)
This combination minimizes the variation band of correction
parameter Q, which has a default value of about one. The
measurement variable R' of equation (2) has minimized error related
to variation of scattering and blood content of tissue.
EXAMPLES
Example 1
[0070] The sensor 31S shown in FIG. 3 is used to determine the
arterial oxygenation and the mixed venous blood oxygenation of
tissue with improved precision. Equation (2) is used to provide a
measurement variable R' for the arterial oxygenation. For each of
the emitters 31E and 32E, three wavelengths are defined. Initially,
two measurement wavelengths w0=940 nm and w2=660 nm are selected.
Using equation (4) the third wavelengths w1 is about 788 nm.
Wavelength w1 805 nm is chosen because it is close to the
calculated third wavelength and is additionally at an isobestic
point of the blood absorption spectrum. The next step is to
determine the resulting light attenuation LA for each of the three
wavelengths w0, w1 and w3:
Law1=LA(A3w1)+LA(A2w1)-LA(A1w1)-LA(A4w1) (5)
LAw2=LA(A3w2)+LA(A2w2)-LA(A1w2)-LA(A4w2) (6)
LAw3=LA(A3w3)+LA(A2w3)-LA(A1w3)-LA(A4w3) (7)
[0071] where LA (Axwy) is the logarithm of received light intensity
in the detector related to light arrow Ax at wavelength wy. Each LA
(Axwy) here is weighted with the factor 1. The suffix x for light
arrows Ax represents the number of the selected light arrow and y
the suffix for the selected wavelength. Instead of the logarithm of
light intensities, light intensity itself can be used in (5)-(7)
and "+" is replaced by "*" and "-" is replaced by "1".
[0072] In the next step, Rw2, w1 and Rw1, w0 are calculated
according to equation (1). As a result R' can be determined using
equation (2) with Q as a correction factor which can be dependant
on Rw2, w1 or Rw1, w0. The measured arterial oxygenation which is
dependant on R' has minimized influence of scattering, blood
content or other optical absorbing constituents in tissue.
[0073] The quotient in (8) which is part of (2) delivers a
measurement variable Rv':
R v ' = L A w 2 * L A w 0 L A w 1 * L A w 1 ( 8 ) ##EQU00003##
[0074] Rv' is a measure of optical absorption of tissue with
decreased influence of scattering. Therefore it can be used as a
signal for mixed venous oxygenation SvO.sub.2
[0075] A mathematically identical form of (2) is:
R ' = R w 2 , w 0 * R v ' R w 1 , w 0 * R w 1 , w 0 + Q ( 9 )
##EQU00004##
[0076] According to (9) the following equation can also be used to
determine a measurement variable R1' for SaO.sub.2:
R 1 ' = R w 2 , w 0 * f ( 1 R w 1 , w 0 * R w 1 , w 0 , R v ' , Q )
( 10 ) ##EQU00005##
[0077] where f is an empirical function of optical tissue
parameters with variables defined above.
[0078] An empirical calibration which reduces influence of
absorption and scattering of tissue on the measured variables with
the variables LAw1, LAw2, LAw3, Rw1, w2 and Rw2, w3 for the whole
saturation range of blood is complex.
[0079] An pure empirical calibration based on these parameters
additionally for different application sites is probably
impossible. The proposed model-based method reduces complexity of
calibration SaO.sub.2 can be determined with improved accuracy
being only dependent on R'.
[0080] It is also possible to use this method for other light
absorbing or scattering constituents of blood like
carboxyhemoglobin, methemoglobin, bilirubin or glucose dissolved in
blood. Light wavelength in the range from 600 nm-1000 nm can be
used for carboxyhemoglobin and methemoglobin. Glucose shows an
absorption peek dissolved in blood at 1100 nm and bilirubin in the
lower wavelengths range from 300 nm-800 nm. For every additional
constituent an additional wavelengths has to be chosen. That means
that to measure SaO.sub.2 and methemoglobin at a time, four
wavelength have to be selected and two different measurement
variables R'1 and R'2 according equation (9) have to be defined.
Accordingly, the resulting output for SaO.sub.2 is dependent on R'1
and methemoglobin on R'2.
[0081] As a result sensor 31S is able to measure arterial and mixed
venous oxygenation and other blood constituents at a time with
reduced influence of measurement errors due to scattering and
absorption of tissue.
Example 2
[0082] In FIG. 4 finger clip sensor 54 is shown with the two
emitters 31E, 32E and the two detectors 31D and 32D. The benefit of
the finger clip sensor is that it is easy to apply. Equivalent to
sensor 31S in FIG. 3, four representative light paths between two
emitters and the two detectors are possible so that all
calculations according example 1 can be performed in order to
calculate the output variables R' and Rv' as a measure for mixed
venous and arterial oxygenation in the finger 48. The corresponding
calculations can also be performed using sensor of FIG. 9. The
difference here is the alternative form of detectors 35D and 36D,
which are able to increase detected light intensity due to an
enlarged, concentric detector area.
Example 3
[0083] FIG. 5 shows a multidimensional calibration of SaO.sub.2 vs.
R1 and R2. R1 and R2 can be calculated according (1) by selecting
two wavelengths pairs where for the first wavelengths pair the
wavelengths wm1=660 nm and wm2=910 nm is chosen and for the second
wavelengths pair wm3=810 nm and wm2=910 nm. The second wavelengths
pair is less sensitive towards arterial oxygenation and is used to
compensate errors due to optical tissue parameter variations. In
order to guarantee that the multidimensional calibration delivers
improved precision in presence of varying tissue parameters, it is
important to select exactly the correspondent calibration which is
specified for a distinct wavelengths set and a distinct detector
emitter distance. Therefore additional information has to be coded
to the selected sensor. The tissue oximeter device can read out
this information and use the appropriate calibration. The coding of
information can be achieved for example by a resistor implemented
in the LED drive line of the sensor (see FIG. 17: 248, 238).
[0084] A variant of a multidimensional calibration (FIG. 5) can be
achieved by calculating R1 according to equation (2) and R2
according to equation (8). This minimizes the error of displayed
arterial oxygenation SaO2 due to varying optical tissue
absorption.
Example 4
[0085] In FIG. 7 a fetal pulse oximetry sensor 74 is shown, which
punctures the skin on the head of the fetus with a spiral needle
76. The bottom view of FIG. 8 shows sensor 74 with 4 emitters 31E,
32E, 33E, 34E and four detectors 31D, 32D, 33D, 34D. Apparently,
more than four different light paths per selected wavelength
between emitters and detectors are possible. This additional
information is used to calculate a whole set of resulting light
attenuations LAx. For the different light paths it is also possible
to compute a set of measurement variables Rx. Generating a mean
weighted value (weight can depend on the noise of the related
measurement signals) LAm and Rm of the variables LAx and Rx helps
to reduce errors due to tissue inhomogenities. To achieve a stable
measure for the optical tissue parameters, which are not influenced
by locally varying tissue compositions, is important to minimize
errors to precisely determine the inputs of model-based
parameters.
Example 5
[0086] A brain oximeter is shown in FIG. 13 which is positioned on
the right side of the forehead of a patient. The cross section of
the brain illustrates how four light paths travel through tissue
from emitters 31E, 32E to the detectors 31D and 32D, representative
for one wavelength. A resulting light attenuation LA can be
achieved for each wavelength by adding light attenuations of A32
and A22 and subtracting therefrom the light attentions which are
related to A42 and A12. The resulting light attenuation LA is then
independent on dirt on emitters or detectors or on degeneration of
those parts, which is an important feature since those sensors can
be reused. Three wavelengths are chosen for each of the two
emitters 31E and 32E of the sensor in FIG. 13 of the brain
oxymeter: wb1=660 nm, wb2=740 nm and wb3=810 nm.
[0087] The ratio Rvb of the resulting light attentions LAwb2 and
LAwb3 is used as a measure for the mixed venous oxygenation. The
resulting light attenuation at wavelength wb3=810 nm can be used to
eliminate the dependency of blood content in tissue of Rvb with a
multidimensional calibration of SvO.sub.2 vs. Rvb and LAwb3.
[0088] A preferred emitter-detector distance between emitter 32E
and detector 31D is greater than 2 cm. The longer the
emitter-detector distance is, the deeper the penetration depth into
the brain. In order to achieve maximum penetration depth at a
minimum of sensor outline, the distance between an emitter and a
detector should be the maximum distance between all emitters and
detectors.
[0089] FIG. 14 shows an example where within the sensor, the two
detectors have the maximum distance and the detector and emitter
elements are grouped symmetrically with regard to the center of the
sensor. The resulting maximum penetration depth of light path A31,
A21 is here less than maximum penetration depth of light path A32
of the sensor which illustrated in FIG. 13 because the maximum
emitter detector distance is also less compared to sensor in FIG.
13 at the same total outline of the sensors. Positioning emitters
and detectors asymmetrically is therefore the best choice to
achieve oxygenation measurements in deep layers of tissue.
[0090] FIG. 12 shows a bottom view of a brain oximetry sensor, in
which emitter 31E and detectors 31D and 32D are positioned in a
triangle. The light paths between emitter 31E and 31D and between
31E and 32D using the wavelengths wb1=660 nm and wb3=810 nm are
determined to evaluate the measurement variables Rp1 and Rp2 which
are calculated according to equation (1). The mean value of Rp1 and
Rp2 is used as the output value for the arterial oxygenation
SaO.sub.2. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 12A, the emitters 31E
and 32E can be positioned where detectors 31D and 32D are located
and detectors 31D and 32D are placed at the location of emitter 31E
and 32E in FIG. 12.
Example 6
[0091] Referring to Example 5, a brain oximetry sensor was
described which is able to determine arterial and mixed venous
oxygenation of tissue. These two parameters can be used to
calculate the oxygen extraction of tissue. A measure therefor can
be the difference of arterial and mixed venous oxygenation. Oxygen
extraction reflects how well tissue is supplied with oxygen, and
can additionally be used to calculate the cardiac output or the
trend of the cardiac output CaOut non-invasively.
[0092] FIG. 15 shows a patient being supplied with air via an
intubation tube 210. The oxygen consumption or CO.sub.2 generation
is determined within an anaesthesia machine 204. Brain oximetry
sensor 32S is connected to SaO.sub.2 and SvO.sub.2 display device
206. The information of device 204 and device 206 is evaluated in a
cardiac output monitor 202 in the following or similar manner:
CaOut = ( oxygen consumption per time ) Sa O 2 Sv O 2 ( 11 )
##EQU00006##
Example 7
[0093] Knowledge of oxygenation of tissue of parts of the body is
of high interest for sports activity monitoring. The oxygenation
the muscles of the upper leg or upper arm can reflect the training
level for different activities of sport FIG. 16 shows an athlete
wearing various sensors which are connected by a line or wirelessly
with a wrist-worn-display 220. A sports activity sensor can have
the same topology as the above-mentioned brain sensor of FIG. 12.
Emitter-detector distances however vary, depending on desired
tissue monitoring depth. Preferred wavelengths to monitor the mixed
venous oxygenation are ws1=700 nm, ws2=805 nm and ws3=870 nm. A
resulting light attenuation LA is calculated for each wavelength:
LWws1, LAws2 and LAws3 with ws1, ws2 and ws3 as index for the
selected wavelengths. A measurement variable for the mixed venous
oxygenation Rvs is obtained in the following or similar manner:
R v s = L A w s 1 - L A w s 2 L A w s 2 - L A w s 3 ( 12 )
##EQU00007##
[0094] Less influence of light scattering and absorption of tissue
can be achieved for the determination of mixed venous oxygenation
in this way.
[0095] A further improvement for better measurement precision can
be achieved by generating an output value for the mixed venous
oxygenation which is dependant on a multidimensional calibration of
SvO.sub.2 vs. Rvs and Rv.
[0096] Although the description above contains many specificities,
these should not be constructed as limiting the scope of the
invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the
presently preferred embodiments of this invention. For example the
shape of the emitters can be rectangular, emitters can include
LEDs, detectors photodiodes; the shape of the brain sensor can be
round; the proposed methods to calculate arterial and mixed venous
oxygenation of tissue can be combined in different combinations,
signals can be processed by Kalman filters in order to reduce
influence of noise caused by motion or other unwanted sources,
etc.
* * * * *