Transcutaneous monitoring of critical perfusion-efficiency situations

Abstract

First and second probes are laid against the skin to transcutaneously measure perfusion and e.g., oxygen concentration and generate corresponding first and second signals. These signals are fed to a signal-processing unit which triggers an alarm whenever changes in these signals meet predetermined rate-of-change criteria. Among these criteria is parallel increase in both perfusion and e.g., oxygen concentration, parallel decrease in both perfusion and e.g., oxygen concentration, and unchanging perfusion accompanied by decreasing e.g., oxygen concentration. The probes are occasionally pressed against the skin, for example under the control of a timer, with a pressure in excess of 1 g/cm.sup.2, to occasionally induce hyperemic conditions and see whether parallel changes in perfusion and concentration result.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.