VALIDATION OF A NONINVASIVE THERMAL PERFUSION SYSTEM USING A CANINE MEDIAL SAPHENOUS FASCIOCUTANEOUS FREE TISSUE FLAP MODEL

摘要

This work describes steps in the ongoing development of a system to noninvasively estimate blood perfusion using thermal methods. A combination thermocouple/ thermopile sensor is used to record heat flux and temperature measurements on the tissue of interest. The resulting data are compared to a biothermal computer model to determine blood perfusion. The system has been tested on a canine medial saphenous fasciocutaneous free tissue flap that allows experimental control of blood flow to the measurement site. These experiments show distinct correlation between blood flow and bioprobe output demonstrating the validity of the measurement method.