OPTICAL BLOOD PRESSURE AND VELOCITY SENSOR

摘要

A single point implantable optical sensor measures in vivo changes in blood pressure and velocity. An optical fiber waveguide in a catheter transmits light to M-Z interferometer. The wave propagation of fluctuating blood pressure in a living organism is measured by recording the time dependence optical signal losses as the wave traverse each leg of the M-Z device. The time lag between the pressure induced transmission losses at each spaced apart leg is used to calculate blood velocity at the location of the sensor. A plurality of the sensors may be distributed along or catheter in communication via a common optical waveguide.