Abstract: The inventors have developed tools for quantifying the mitochondrial redox state of in vivo, in situ tissue using resonance Raman spectroscopy. The tissue is illuminated with an excitation beam that causes the tissue to scatter Raman-shifted light, which is collected and analyzed to produce coefficients representing the relative concentrations of different chromophores in the tissue. These relative concentrations indicate the redox state of whole mitochondria, hemoglobin oxygen saturation, myoglobin oxygen saturation, and/or redox state of individual cytochrome complexes in mitochondria of the in vivo, in situ tissue. Quantifiable information about these states and/or saturations can be used to assess tissue health, including organ (dys)function before, during, and after surgery. For example, this information can be used to predict impending cardiac failure, to guide surgical interventions, to monitor organ health after transplantation, or to guide post-operative care.

Abstract: The present technology includes a system and method for monitoring a donor organ tissue using Raman spectroscopy. The technology enables real-time quantification of the mitochondrial redox state in the tissue sample taken from an organ intended for transplant using a compact device. The system is based on resonance Raman spectroscopy which can quantify a mitochondrial redox state in tissues using a Resonance Raman Reduced Mitochondrial Ratio. The mitochondrial redox state of the tissue sample acts as a marker of tissue function and may distinguish healthy versus damaged tissue. Moreover, these measures may correlate with transplantation outcomes.

Abstract: The inventors have developed tools for quantifying the mitochondrial redox state of in vivo, in situ tissue using resonance Raman spectroscopy. The tissue is illuminated with an excitation beam that causes the tissue to scatter Raman-shifted light, which is collected and analyzed to produce coefficients representing the relative concentrations of different chromophores in the tissue. These relative concentrations indicate the redox state of whole mitochondria, hemoglobin oxygen saturation, myoglobin oxygen saturation, and/or redox state of individual cytochrome complexes in mitochondria of the in vivo, in situ tissue. Quantifiable information about these states and/or saturations can be used to assess tissue health, including organ (dys)function before, during, and after surgery. For example, this information can be used to predict impending cardiac failure, to guide surgical interventions, to monitor organ health after transplantation, or to guide post-operative care.