Functional near infrared spectroscopy for Hb and HbO₂ detection using remote sensing

This paper presents the development of a wireless, near-infrared (NIR) imaging system. The goal of the system is to provide flexibility and functionality to clinicians and researchers who require monitoring of blood profusion to tissue, muscles, or the brain. The prototype uses a single stimulus/detection unit composed of an Epitex NIR LED with three wavelength options: 730, 805, and 850 nm, and an OPT101 photodiode detector. The stimulus/detection unit is used to detect changes in the levels of oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin in the body by detecting the amounts of absorbed and backscattered light at the appropriate wavelength. The backscattered light collected by the optical sensor is converted to a digital, serial bit stream for wireless transmission to a base station computer. The usefulness of this design may significantly change the way in which researchers and clinicians study the human body. Without the need to attach a subject to bulky equipment and confine them to a laboratory setting, the investigator can gather data unrestricted by the experimental setting. This advantage permits a vital metabolic indicator to be studied in many different and perhaps difficult situations.