Method for evaluating extracellular water concentration in tissue

• Main Authors: CAMPBELL, SHANNON E, BAKER, CLARK R. JR, HOARAU, CARINE, DURR, NICK, DEBRECZENY, MARTIN, OSTROWSKI, RAFAEL, SCHMITT, JOSEPH
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 17.11.2010
• Subjects: DIAGNOSIS; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; IDENTIFICATION; INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIRCHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; MEASURING; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; PHYSICS; SURGERY; TESTING

A method for assessing a whole-body extracellular water metric in a subject, said method comprising: assessing a first localized extracellular water metric at a first tissue site in the subject by emitting light of at least one wavelength towards the first tissue site, wherein a portion of the light is reflected from the first tissue site and detecting at least one wavelength of light reflected by the first tissue site from a position about one millimeter to about five millimeters from the first tissue site;assessing a second localized extracellular water metric at a second tissue site in the subject by emitting light of at least one wavelength towards the second tissue site, wherein a portion of the light is reflected from the second tissue site and detecting at least one wavelength of light reflected by the second tissue site from a position about one millimeter to about five millimeters from the second tissue site; and processing the first and second localized extracellular water metrics to produce a whole-body extracellular water metric, wherein the first and second tissue sites are two different locations.