Method for monitoring viability of tissue flaps
First Claim
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1. A method for assessing viability of flap tissue, the method comprising:
- positioning a sensor head of a probe at a first location of the flap tissue, wherein the probe comprises a cable having a connector adapted to be removably coupled to a console, the sensor head comprises a first source structure and first detector structure, the first source structure and first detector structure are positioned on a planar surface of the sensor head, and a beam combiner is external to the probe;
causing a first light signal to be transmitted through a first optical fiber in the probe to the first source structure and into the flap tissue;
after the causing the first light signal, and without repositioning the sensor head of the probe, allowing the first detector structure to receive a reflection of the first light signal from the flap tissue, the reflection being a second light signal; and
enabling transmitting of the second light signal from the first detector structure through a second optical fiber in the probe to the connector adapted to be removably coupled to the console,whereby the console, based on the first and second light signals, causes a screen of the console to display a first indication of an oxygen saturation level representative of the first location of the flap tissue,whereby the console causes a second indication of the oxygen saturation level representative of the first location of the flap tissue as being greater than a predetermined oxygen saturation level, indicative of a viability of the flap tissue, andwhereby the console causes a third indication of the oxygen saturation level representative of the first location of the flap tissue as being less than the predetermined oxygen saturation level, indicative of a viability of the flap tissue, wherein the third indication is different from the second indication.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus are used to assess the viability of tissue such as flap tissue. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for assessing the viability of flap tissue includes obtaining an oxygen saturation level associated with a first location on the flap tissue, determining whether the oxygen saturation level is less than a first level, and identifying the first location as having a poor blood supply if the oxygen saturation level is less than the first level.
19 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method for assessing viability of flap tissue, the method comprising:
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positioning a sensor head of a probe at a first location of the flap tissue, wherein the probe comprises a cable having a connector adapted to be removably coupled to a console, the sensor head comprises a first source structure and first detector structure, the first source structure and first detector structure are positioned on a planar surface of the sensor head, and a beam combiner is external to the probe; causing a first light signal to be transmitted through a first optical fiber in the probe to the first source structure and into the flap tissue; after the causing the first light signal, and without repositioning the sensor head of the probe, allowing the first detector structure to receive a reflection of the first light signal from the flap tissue, the reflection being a second light signal; and enabling transmitting of the second light signal from the first detector structure through a second optical fiber in the probe to the connector adapted to be removably coupled to the console, whereby the console, based on the first and second light signals, causes a screen of the console to display a first indication of an oxygen saturation level representative of the first location of the flap tissue, whereby the console causes a second indication of the oxygen saturation level representative of the first location of the flap tissue as being greater than a predetermined oxygen saturation level, indicative of a viability of the flap tissue, and whereby the console causes a third indication of the oxygen saturation level representative of the first location of the flap tissue as being less than the predetermined oxygen saturation level, indicative of a viability of the flap tissue, wherein the third indication is different from the second indication. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification