Edema Monitor

摘要

An edema monitor uses patient-specific measurements of tissue conductivity and tissue perfusion and an empirically developed perfusion coefficient of thermal conductivity to obtain tissue intravascular water and tissue extravascular water components of tissue total water. Edema is an excess of tissue extravascular water. A value for edema is obtained by deducting from the obtained value for tissue extravascular water a normal value for tissue extravascular water.

主权项

1. A monitor for assessing tissue water content comprising:
a) a thermistor for contacting live tissue; b) means for energizing said thermistor for heating a volume of tissue and producing a signal functionally related to the power used to heat said thermistor and the temperature rise of said thermistor; c) a perfusion coefficient of thermal conductivity model relating tissue conductivity, tissue perfusion and the perfusion coefficient of thermal conductivity of tissue for distinguishing tissue intravascular water and tissue extravascular water components of total tissue water; and d) a data processor for determining a value for tissue extravascular water as a function of the power used to heat the thermistor, the temperature rise of the thermistor and input from the perfusion coefficient of thermal conductivity model.