A method for measuring oxygen distributions in tissue using frequency domain phosphorometry

Phosphorescence lifetime of phosphors dissolved in biological fluids is dependent on the local oxygen concentration. When phosphor is added to the blood in vivo there is a distribution of lifetimes due to the distribution of oxygen concentrations in the blood of the sampled tissue volume. The distribution of oxygen can be assessed non-invasively and in practically real-time using frequency domain time-resolved phosphorometry. Here we describe a multi-frequency system for measurements of oxygen distributions in tissue in vivo. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.