Project Title:

Noninvasive Blood Analysis During Manned Space Flight

12.02-1545
901241
Noninvasive Blood Analysis During Manned Space Flight

Abstract:

A spectroscopic approach will be developed for analysis of blood during manned space
missions directly through the skin by using light from a laser diode array reflected
from a prominent vein near the skin surface in either the wrist or ankle region of
the body. The laser diodes will operate at low power, causing no tissue injury, and
at specific wavelengths in the red and near infrared, wavelengths at which skin and
venous tissue are known to be transparent to a depth of several millimeters. The
reflected light at each of the selected probe wavelengths will then be measured.
The reflected intensities from each probe wavelength are analyzed in two modes: 
the specific reflectance ratios among the probe wavelengths will be determined and
used to identify blood components present in the monitored patient's circulatory
system; and if the ratios of key selected wavelengths remain unchanged, the reflectance
intensity will be used to monitor changes in red cell (hematocrit) concentration.
The product, a noninvasive blood monitor, would be widely useful in the practice
of medicine.
noninvasive blood analysis, reflectance spectroscopy