Method for measuring venous oxygen saturation

摘要

A method for measuring venous oxygen saturation levels has steps of measuring optical absorption oscillation data at the respiratory frequency at a plurality of wavelengths ( 2 ). A reduced scattering coefficient and an absorption coefficient are determined for the tissue, with the result that an effective path length can be determined ( 6 ). Data processing is performed to calculate amplitudes for the absorption oscillation data that are translated into oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin concentrations for the venous compartment ( 8 ). A method of the invention does not required mechanical ventilation devices or venous perturbation. Additional method steps may entail verifying that the measured absorption oscillation data results from the venous compartment.