Date Available

9-17-2014

Year of Publication

2014

Degree Name

Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering

Document Type

Master's Thesis

College

Engineering

Department/School/Program

Biomedical Engineering

First Advisor

Dr. Guoqiang Yu

Abstract

This research investigates various applications of diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS) on in-vivo human muscle tissue, both at rest and during dynamic exercise. Previously suspected muscle tissue relative blood flow (rBF) baseline shift during extended measurement with DCS and DCS-Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) hybrid optical systems are verified, quantified, and resolved by redesign of optical probe and alteration in optical probe attachment methodology during 40 minute supine bed rest baseline measurements. We then translate previously developed occlusion techniques, whereby rBF and relative oxygen consumption rV̇O2 are calibrated to initial resting absolute values by use of a venous occlusion (VO) and arterial occlusion (AO) protocol, respectively, to the lower leg (gastrocnemius) and these blood flows are cross validated at rest by strain gauge venous plethysmography (SGVP). Methods used to continuously observe 0.5Hz, 30% maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) plantar flexion exercise via dynamometer are adapted for our hybrid DCS-Imagent diffuse optical flow-oximeter in the medial gastrocnemius. We obtain healthy control muscle tissue hemodynamic profiles for key parameters BF, V̇O2, oxygen saturation (StO2), deoxyhemoglobin, oxyhemoglobin, and total hemoglobin concentrations ([Hb], [HbO2], and THC respectively), as well as systemic mean arterial pressure (MAP) and pulse rate (PR), at rest, during VO/AO, during dynamic exercise and during 15 minute recovery periods. Next, we began investigation of muscle tissue hemodynamic disease states by performing a feasibility pilot study using limited numbers of controls and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) patients using the translated methods/techniques to determine the ability of our technology to assess differences in these populations.

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