Abstract: According to the present invention, a method and apparatus for non-invasively determining the blood oxygen saturation level within a subject's tissue is provided. The method comprises the steps of: a) providing a spectrophotometric sensor operable to transmit light into the subject's tissue, and to sense the light; b) detecting light after passage through the subject's tissue using the sensor, and producing initial signal data from the light sensed; c) calibrating the sensor to that particular subject using the initial signal data, thereby accounting for the specific physical characteristics of the particular subject's tissue being sensed; and d) using the calibrated sensor to determine the blood oxygen parameter value within the subject's tissue.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring a blood oxygen saturation level within a subject's tissue is provided. The method includes the steps of: a) sensing the subject's tissue using a near infrared spectrophotometric oximeter, and producing a value representative of the oxygen saturation level within the sensed tissue; b) comparing the determined saturation value to a predetermined threshold oxygen saturation value; and c) determining at least one of a time under threshold (TUT) value or an area under threshold (AUT) value using the determined saturation value and the threshold value.

Abstract: A spectrophotometric sensor assembly for non-invasive monitoring of a blood metabolite within a subject's body tissue is provided that includes a pad, a light source, and a light detector The light source is operative to emit light signals of a plurality of different wavelengths. The light detector is operative to detect light emitted by the light source and passed through the subject's body tissue. The light detector is at least partially enclosed in EMI shielding. In some embodiments, the light detector and EMI shielding are disposed in a detector housing that encloses the light detector and shielding. The housing is aligned with a detector aperture disposed in the pad.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a method and apparatus for non-invasively determining the blood oxygen saturation level within a subject's tissue is provided. The method comprises the steps of: 1) providing a near infrared spectrophotometric sensor operable to transmit light along a plurality of wavelengths into the subject's tissue; 2) sensing the light transmitted into the subject's tissue using the sensor, and producing signal data representative of the light sensed from the subject's tissue; 3) processing the signal data to account for physical characteristics of the subject; and 4) determining the blood oxygen saturation level within the subject's tissue using a difference in attenuation between the wavelengths. The apparatus includes a sensor having a light source and at least one light detector, which sensor is operably connected to a processor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining cerebral oxygen saturation in a subject is provided. The method comprises the steps of: a) determining tissue oxygen saturation values using a NIRS type oximeter over a period of time; b) modeling a rate of change in the tissue oxygen saturation values; and c) determining an amount of time until a predetermined tissue oxygen saturation value is reached using the modeling of the tissue oxygen saturation values.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for non-invasively determining a blood oxygen saturation level within an organ of a subject using direct application of a near infrared spectrophotometric sensor is provided. The method includes the steps of: a) transmitting a light signal directly into the subject's organ using the sensor; b) sensing a first intensity of the light signal and a second intensity of the light signal, after the light signal travels a predetermined distance through the organ of the subject; c) determining an attenuation of the light signal along multiple different wavelengths using the sensed first intensity and sensed second intensity; d) determining a difference in attenuation of the light signal between wavelengths; and e) determining the blood oxygen saturation level within the subject's organ using the difference in attenuation between wavelengths.

Abstract: A system for measuring the luminance and temperature of a light source element of a spectrophotometric device is provided. The system includes a photodiode, a luminance measuring device, a temperature measuring device, a first switch, and a controller. The photodiode is operable to receive light signals emitted by the light source element and passing through a subject's body tissue. The luminance measuring device is operable to measure luminance of the light signals received by the photodiode. The temperature measuring device is operable to measure the temperature of the photodiode. The first switch is operable to connect the photodiode to the luminance measuring device or the temperature measuring device. The controller is operable to control the connection of the first switch.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining an index indicative of a subject's response to an oxygen desaturation condition is provided. The method includes the steps of: a) providing a NIRS tissue sensor, a pulse oximetry sensor, and a processor in communication with the NIRS tissue sensor and the pulse oximetry sensor; b) sensing the subject's tissue using the NIRS tissue sensor and producing first signals; c) sensing the subject's tissue using the pulse oximetry sensor and producing second signals; d) processing the first signals to determine a change in tissue oxygen saturation values, processing the second signals to determine a change in arterial oxygen saturation values; and e) determining the index indicative of the subject's response to the oxygen desaturation condition using the change in tissue oxygen saturation values and the change in arterial oxygen saturation values.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for non-invasively determining a blood oxygen saturation level and/or the presence of fecal matter within a subject's lower GI tissue is provided. The method includes the steps of: a) providing a spectrophotometric sensor operable to transmit light into the subject's tissue, and to sense the light; b) sensing the subject's lower GI Tissue Using the Sensor, and Producing signal data from sensing the subject's tissue; c) processing the signal data, including determining the presence of one or more wavelength dependent light absorbing materials not present within blood within the subject's lower GI tract from the signal data; and d) determining the blood oxygen saturation level and/or presence of fecal matter within the subject's lower GI tissue, including accounting for the presence of the wavelength dependent light absorbing material not present within blood within the subject's lower GI tract determined using the signal data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for non-invasively determining the blood oxygenation within a subject's tissue is provided that utilizes a near infrared spectrophotometric (NIRS) sensor capable of transmitting a light signal into the tissue of a subject and sensing the light signal once it has passed through the tissue via transmittance or reflectance.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a venous oxygen saturation value (SvO2) of a subject is provided. The method includes the steps of: a) sensing a plurality of tissue regions on a subject using a NIRS oximeter adapted to determine a tissue oxygen saturation value (StO2) for each region, each region independent of the other regions and each region sensed using a NIRS oximeter sensor specific to that region, and determining a StO2 value for that region; b) assigning a coefficient to each region, each of which coefficients reflects a portion of the StO2 value for the region attributable to a composite venous blood return representative of the tissue regions measured; and c) determining a composite SvO2 value for the subject using the StO2 region values and the respective coefficients.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for non-invasively determining the blood oxygenation within a subject's tissue is provided that utilizes a near infrared spectrophotometric (NIRS) sensor capable of transmitting a light signal into the tissue of a subject and sensing the light signal once it has passed through the tissue via transmittance or reflectance.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for calibrating an NIRS system which includes a sensor portion and for evaluating an NIRS system for proper functioning is provided that includes an enclosure with at least two windows disposed in a wall of the enclosure. The windows allow the light source and one or more detectors of an NIRS system sensor to interface with the enclosure. One window is dedicated to the light source while each light detector has a window dedicated thereto. Thus, the enclosure includes a number of windows equal to the number of light detectors in the NIRS system sensor plus one. The inner surface of the wall(s) of the enclosure is of a light-absorbing color; e.g., black. A diffuse reflectance member of a light-reflecting color, e.g., white, is disposed in the enclosure spaced apart from the surface with the windows disposed therein.

Abstract: A spectroscopic method and system that monitors oxygenation levels in biological tissue is provided. The system includes a sensor portion, a monitor portion, and at least one optical fiber light stabilizer. The sensor portion includes at least one sensor assembly, which sensor assembly has at least one light signal outlet, and at least one light detector adapted to sense light and produce detected signals. The monitor portion has a processor in communication with the light detector in the sensor assembly, and a light source adapted to produce laser light signals at a plurality of different wavelengths. The optical fiber light stabilizer is adapted to stabilize the laser light signals. The processor is adapted to process the detected signals to determine oxygenation levels within the biological tissue.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for non-invasively determining a blood oxygenation level within a subject's tissue is provided. The method includes the steps of: a) providing a spectrophotometric sensor operable to transmit light into the subject's tissue, and to sense the light; b) inputting into the sensor at least one of the subject's age, weight, brain development, and head size; c) spectrophotometrically sensing the subject's tissue along a plurality of wavelengths using the sensor, and producing signal data from sensing the subject's tissue; and d) processing the signal data utilizing the at least one of the subject's age, weight, brain development, and head size, to determine the blood oxygen saturation level within the subject's tissue using a difference in attenuation between the wavelengths.

Abstract: A near infrared spectrophotometric sensor for non-invasive monitoring of blood oxygenation levels in a subject's spinal cord tissue and spinal cord blood vessels is provided. The sensor includes at least one light source and at least one light detector. The light source is operative to emit near infrared light signals of a plurality of different wavelengths. The light detector is operative to sense light signals emitted from the light source and passed through the subject's spinal tissue, and to produce a sensor signal representative of the sensed light signals The light source is separated from the light detector by a distance representative of a distance from a first vertebrae structure of a human spine to a second vertebrae structure of the human spine, to permit alignment of the light source and detector with the first and second vertebrae structure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining cerebral oxygen saturation in a subject is provided. The method comprises the steps of: a) determining tissue oxygen saturation values using a NIRS type oximeter over a period of time; b) modeling a rate of change in the tissue oxygen saturation values; and c) determining an amount of time until a predetermined tissue oxygen saturation value is reached using the modeling of the tissue oxygen saturation values.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a method and apparatus for non-invasively determining the blood oxygen saturation level within a subject's tissue is provided. The method comprises the steps of: 1) providing a near infrared spectrophotometric sensor operable to transmit light along a plurality of wavelengths into the subject's tissue; 2) sensing the light transmitted into the subject's tissue using the sensor, and producing signal data representative of the light sensed from the subject's tissue; 3) processing the signal data to account for physical characteristics of the subject; and 4) determining the blood oxygen saturation level within the subject's tissue using a difference in attenuation between the wavelengths. The apparatus includes a sensor having a light source and at least one light detector, which sensor is operably connected to a processor.

Abstract: A near infrared spectrophotometric (NIRS) sensor assembly for non-invasive monitoring of blood oxygenation levels in a subject's body is provided that includes a pad, at least one light source, a near light detector, a far light detector, and a cover. The light source is operative to emit near infrared light signals of a plurality of different wavelengths. The near light detector is separated from the light source by a first distance that is great enough to position the first light detector outside of an optical shunt field extending out from the light source. The far light detector is substantially linearly aligned with the near light detector and light source, and is separated from the near light detector by a second distance, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.