We present in vivo optical properties of skin tissue assessed using spatially resolved diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. Data was collected in a sub-study of the Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage Study (SCAPIS). Measurements were performed on 3,809 subjects, 50-65 years, on the volar side of the forearm with the PeriFlux 6000 EPOS system. The analysis consisted of an inverse Monte Carlo method where modeled spectra were non-linearly fitted to measured diffuse reflectance spectra at 0.4 and 1.2-mm source-detector fiber separations, respectively, between 475 and 850 nm. The model consisted of one epidermis layer with adaptable thickness and absorption caused by melanin, and two dermis layers. The upper dermis had a fixed thickness of 0.2 mm and the lower an infinite thickness. The absorption in the dermis layers depended on varying amounts of hemoglobin and its oxygen saturation. The reduced scattering coefficient, with three adaptable parameters, was equal in all layers in the model. Absorption coefficient in epidermis times epidermis thickness, reflecting the total amount of melanin, was 0.19 +/- 0.16 [-] at 570 nm with a significant difference between winter (0.12 +/- 0.10) and summer (0.26 +/- 0.19). Melanin absorption implies an average of 3.9% tissue fraction of melanosomes in epidermis. Absorption coefficient at the 570 nm isosbestic point was 0.19 +/- 0.11 mm(-1) in the upper dermis layer and 0.10 +/- 0.05 mm(-1) in the lower. The reduced scattering coefficient was 2.3 +/- 0.5 mm(-1) at 570 nm. Average sampling depth for all wavelengths and both separations was 0.43 +/- 0.03 mm.

BackgroundContinuous positive airway pressure is a non-invasive therapy beneficial for patients with acute respiratory failure. The need for this therapy outside intensive care units is growing, but nurses face many challenges to enable this therapy in general medical wards. Aims and ObjectivesThe aim of the study was to explore nurses strategies for enabling continuous positive airway pressure therapy in a general medical ward context. MethodAn explorative qualitative design was used including semi-structured interviews with 15 Swedish nurses. Data were analysed using a conventional content analysis. ResultsThe nurses strategies included a non-hierarchical approach when utilising an intra- and interprofessional collaboration. Inexperience was compensated for by collaboration. Nurses strategies involved advanced patient-centred care using interventions to manage and ease the patients treatment and discomfort. The creation of an alliance with the patient was crucial to prevent treatment failure. The strategies were interrelated and considered as parts of a whole. ConclusionNurses described the strategy of a dynamic team that could be enlarged or decreased in tandem with other professionals, depending on the situation and the nurses needs. Nurses need to have an attentive response to the patients physical, psychosocial and relational needs and to maintain trust for a positive therapy outcome.

The objective of this study was to explore the associations between skin microcirculatory function and established cardiovascular risk factors in a large Swedish cohort. As part of the Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage Study (SCAPIS), microcirculatory data were acquired at Linko center dot ping University hospital, Linko center dot ping, Sweden during 2016-2017. The subjects, aged 50-64 years, were randomly selected from the national population register. Microcirculatory reactivity was assessed using a 5-min arterial occlusion-release protocol. Comprehensive skin microcirculatory data were continuously acquired by using a fiberoptic probe placed on the lower right arm. After exclusion of missing data (208), 1557 subjects were remaining. Among the parameters, skin microcirculatory peak oxygen saturation after occlusion release, had the strongest relationship to the cardiovascular risk factors. The linear associations between peak oxygen saturation and cardiovascular risk factors were analyzed adjusted for age and sex. We found a negative association with peak oxygen saturation (standardized regression coefficient) for blood pressure (systolic-0.05 (95% CI:-0.10;-0.003) and diastolic-0.05 (-0.10;-0.003)), BMI-0.18 (-0.23;-0.13), waist circumference (males-0.20 (-0.32;-0.16), females-0.18 (-0.25;-0.11)), prevalent diabetes-0.31 (-0.49;-0.12), hypertension-0.30 (-0.42;-0.18), dyslipidemia-0.24 (-0.40;-0.09), fasting glucose level-0.06 (-0.12;-0.01), HbA1c-0.07 (-0.12;-0.02), triglyceride level-0.09 (-0.14;-0.04), hsCRP-0.12 (-0.17;-0.07), and current smoker versus never smoked-0.50 (-0.67;-0.34). A positive association with peak oxygen saturation was found for cholesterol level 0.05 (0.005; 0.11) and HDL 0.11 (0.06; 0.17). This is the first study showing that post-ischemic skin microvascular peak oxygen saturation is associated with virtually all established cardiovascular risk factors in a population-based middle-aged cohort.

Introduction: Impaired oxygenation in the skin may occur in disease states and after reconstructive surgery. We used tissue viability imaging (TiVi) to measure changes in oxygenation and deoxygenation of haemoglobin in an in vitro model and in the dermal microcirculation of healthy individuals. Materials and methods: Oxygenation was measured in human whole blood with different levels of oxygenation. In healthy subjects, changes in red blood cell concentration (C-RBC,(TiVi)), oxygenation (Delta C-OH,(TiVi)) and deoxygenation (Delta C-DOH,(TiVi)) of haemoglobin were measured during and after arterial and venous occlusion using TiVi and were compared with measurements from the enhanced perfusion and oxygen saturation system (EPOS). Results: During arterial occlusion, C-RBC,(TiVi) remained unchanged while Delta C-OH,(TiVi) decreased to -44.2 (10.4) AU (p = 0.04), as compared to baseline. After release, C-RBC,C-TiVi increased to 39.2 (18.8) AU (p < 0.001), Delta C-OH,C-TiVi increased to 38.5. During venous occlusion, C-RBC,C-TiVi increased to 28.9 (11.2) AU (p < 0.001), Delta C-OH,C-TiVi decreased to -52.2 (46.1) AU (p < 0.001) compared to baseline after 5 min of venous occlusion. There was a significant correlation between the TiVi Oxygen Mapper and EPOS, for arterial (r = 0.92, p < 0.001) and venous occlusion (r = 0.87, p < 0.001), respectively. Conclusion: This study shows that TiVi can measure trends in oxygenation and deoxygenation of haemoglobin during arterial and venous stasis in healthy individuals.

The objective of this study was to assess normative values for comprehensive forearm skin microcirculatory function: oxygen saturation, tissue fraction of red blood cells (RBCs), and speed-resolved perfusion. Furthermore, to examine the influence of age and sex on microcirculatory function. Measurements were performed using a noninvasive probe-based system, including diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and laser-Doppler flowmetry, yielding output data in absolute units. The study was conducted within the Swedish CArdioPulmonary BioImage Study (SCAPIS) and included 1,765 men and women aged 50-65 yr from the Linkoping general population. Normative values are given at baseline, at the end of a 5-min occlusion of the brachial artery and during hyperemia after occlusion release. We found a consistent age distribution, in which the oldest individuals had the lowest peak oxygen saturation (P < 0.001) and the highest baseline low-speed perfusion (P < 0.001). Women had higher peak oxygen saturation (P < 0.001), lower RBC tissue fraction, in general (P < 0.001), lower baseline perfusion in all speed regions (P = 0.01). and lower peak high-speed perfusion at hyperemia (P < 0.001). The normative data can be used as reference values in future studies of disease-specific populations. The results show that age and sex are important aspects to consider in studies of microvascular function. Women and younger age were factors associated with higher peak oxygen saturation after ischemia. This is a novel parameter that reflects overall microcirculatory function associated with vascular dilation capacity. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study expands experimental microcirculatory research to clinical use by providing normative values on microcirculatory function in a large population-based cohort. Women and younger age were factors associated with higher peak oxygen saturation after ischemia, which implies that age and sex are important aspects to consider in studies of micmvascular function. This study is the first step toward using microcirculatory assessment as a tool to improve diagnosis. prognosis. and treatment in disease-specific populations.

We have determined in vivo optical scattering properties of normal human skin in 1734 subjects, mostly with fair skin type, within the Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage Study. The measurements were performed with a noninvasive system, integrating spatially resolved diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and laser Doppler flowmetry. Data were analyzed with an inverse Monte Carlo algorithm, accounting for both scattering, geometrical, and absorbing properties of the tissue. The reduced scattering coefficient was found to decrease from 3.16 ± 0.72 to 1.13 ± 0.27 mm-1 (mean ± SD) in the 475- to 850-nm wavelength range. There was a negative correlation between the reduced scattering coefficient and age, and a significant difference between men and women in the reduced scattering coefficient as well as in the fraction of small scattering particles. This large study on tissue scattering with mean values and normal variation can serve as a reference when designing diagnostic techniques or when evaluating the effect of therapeutic optical systems.

Objective: Endothelial function is important for regulating peripheral blood flow to meet varying metabolic demands and can be measured indirectly during vascular provocations. In this study, we compared the PAT finger response (EndoPAT) after a 5-minutes arterial occlusion to that from forearm skin comprehensive microcirculation analysis (EPOS). Methods: Measurements in 16 subjects with varying cardiovascular risk factors were carried out concurrently with both methods during arterial occlusion, while forearm skin was also evaluated during local heating. Results: Peak values for EPOS skin Perf(conv) and speed-resolved total perfusion after the release of the occlusion were significantly correlated to the EndoPAT RHI (rho =.68, P = .007 and rho =.60, P = .025, respectively), mainly due to high-speed blood flow. During local heating, EPOS skin oxygen saturation, SO2, was significantly correlated to RHI (rho = .62, P =.043). This indicates that SO2 may have diagnostic value regarding endothelial function. Conclusions: We have demonstrated for the first time a significant relationship between forearm skin microcirculatory perfusion and oxygen saturation and finger PAT. Both local heating and reactive hyperemia are useful skin provocations. Further studies are needed to understand the precise regulation mechanisms of blood flow and oxygenation during these tests.

Skin and kidney microvascular functions may be affected independently in diabetes mellitus. We investigated skin microcirculatory function in 79 subjects with diabetes type 2, where 41 had microalbuminuria and 38 not, and in 41 age-matched controls. The oxygen saturation, fraction of red blood cells and speed-resolved microcirculatory perfusion (% red blood cells x mm/s) divided into three speed regions: 0-1, 1-10 and above 10 mm/s, were assessed during baseline and after local heating of the foot with a new device integrating diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and laser Doppler flowmetry. Arterial stiffness was assessed as carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity. Subjects with diabetes and microalbuminuria had significantly higher carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity compared to subjects without microalbuminuria and to controls. The perfusion for speeds 0-1 mm/s and red blood cell tissue fraction were reduced in subjects with diabetes at baseline and after heating, independent of microalbuminuria. These parameters were correlated to HbA1c. In conclusion, the reduced nutritive perfusion and red blood cell tissue fraction in type 2 diabetes were related to long-term glucose control but independent of microvascular changes in the kidneys and large-vessel stiffness. This may be due to different pathogenic pathways in the development of nephropathy, large-vessel stiffness and cutaneous microvascular impairment.

Forearm skin hyperemia during release after brachial occlusion has been proposed for evaluating peripheral arterial disease and endothelial dysfunction. We used a novel fiberoptic system integrating Laser Doppler Flowmetry and Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy for a comprehensive pointwise model based microcirculation characterization. The aim was to evaluate and compare the temporal and the spatiotemporal variabilities in forearm skin microcirculation parameters (speed resolved perfusion; low speed amp;lt; 1 mm/s, Perf(SR),(amp;lt; 1); mid-speed 1-10 mm/s, high speed amp;gt; 10 mm/s, and total perfusion (Perf(SR),(tot)); the concentration and oxygenation of red blood cells, C-RBC and S-O2). Ten healthy subjects underwent arterial and venous forearm occlusions (AO, VO), repeated within one week. The repeatability was calculated as the coefficient of variation (CV) and the agreement as the intra-class correlation co-efficient (ICC). The temporal CVs for conventional perfusion, Perf(conv), Perf(SR),(tot), C-RBC and S-O2 were 14%, 12%, 9% and 9%, respectively, while the ICC were amp;gt; 0.75 (excellent). The perfusion measures generally had a higher spatiotemporal than temporal variability, which was not the case for S-O2 and C-RBC. The corresponding spatiotemporal CVs were 33%, 32%, 18% and 15%, respectively. During VO, C-RBC had a CV amp;lt; 35% and ICC amp;gt; 0.40 (fair-good), and after release this was the case for C-RBC (AO and VO), S-O2 (VO) and Perf(SR), (amp;lt; 1) (VO). In conclusion, the skin microcirculation parameters showed excellent temporal repeatability, while the spatiotemporal repeatability especially for perfusion was poorer. The parameters with acceptable repeatability and fair-good agreement were: C-RBC during and after release of VO, the Perf(SR), (amp;lt; 1) after release of VO, the S-O2 and the C-RBC after release of AO. However, the value of these parameters in discriminating endothelial function remains to be studied. (C) 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

ObjectivesTo describe individual BF responses in a nursing home resident population for one-hour periods of bed rest. MethodsBF was measured for one hour over the sacrum in 0 degrees supine position and 30 degrees supine tilt position in 25 individuals aged 65 y or older while lying on a pressure-redistributing mattress. Measurements were made at three tissue depths (1, 2, and 10 mm) using the noninvasive optical techniques, LDF and PPG. ResultsEleven participants had a PIV response at 1mm depth in both positions and seven participants had a lack of this response at this depth and positions. The BF response at 1mm depth appeared immediately and remained over, or below, baseline for the entire 60min of loading in both positions. These BF patterns were also seen in deeper tissue layers. ConclusionsThe cutaneous BF response among the nursing home residents was distinct, appeared early, and remained during the one hour of loading.

The aim of this study was to investigate nursing staff induced repositionings and the patients' spontaneous movements during the day and night among older immobile patients in nursing care. Furthermore, the aim was to identify factors associated with the nursing staff induced repositionings and the patients' spontaneous movement frequency. An observational cross-sectional design was used. Spontaneous movements among patients (n = 52) were registered continuously using the MovinSense monitoring system. The nursing staff documented each time they repositioned the patient. Patients spontaneous movements were compared with nursing staff induced repositionings. There were large variations in the patients' spontaneous repositioning frequency during both days and nights, which shows that, although immobilised, some patients frequently reposition themselves. Analgesics were positively related to the movement frequency and psycholeptics were negatively related. The nursing staff more often repositioned the patients who were assessed as high risk than those assessed as low risk, but the patients' spontaneous movement frequency was not correlated to the risk score. This may be important when planning repositioning schedules. A monitoring system may be useful in decision making with regard to planning repositioning and positions used in the prevention of pressure ulcers among elderly immobile patients.

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the interaction between interface pressure and pressure-induced vasodilation and reactive hyperemia with different pressureredistribution mattresses.

Method: A cross-sectional study was performed with a convenience sample of 42 healthy individuals between 18 and 64 years of age, 38 healthy individuals 65 years or older, and 35 inpatients 65 years or older at a university hospital in Sweden. Blood flow was measured at depths of 1 mm, 2 mm, and 10 mm using a combined system of laser Doppler flowmetry and photoplethysmography. The blood flow, interface pressure and skin temperature were measured in the sacral tissue before, during, and after load while lying on one standard hospital mattress and three different pressure-redistribution mattresses.

Results: There were significant differences between the three foam mattresses with regard to average sacral pressure, peak sacral pressure, and local probe pressure with the lowest values at the visco-elastic foam/air mattress (23.5 ± 2.5 mmHg, 49.3 ± 11.1 mmHg, 29.2 ± 14.0 mmHg respectively). A greater proportion of subjects had affected blood flow in terms of lack of pressure-induced vasodilation on the visco-elastic foam/air mattress compared to the alternating pressure mattress at tissue depths of 2 mm (39.0% vs. 20.0%, respectively) and 10 mm (56.9 % vs. 35.1%, respectively). Eleven individuals, including subjects in all three subject groups were identified with no pressure-induced vasodilation or reactive hyperemia in any mattress, and this was considered a high-risk blood flow response.

Conclusion: Interface pressure magnitudes considered not harmful during pressure-exposure lying on different pressure-redistribution mattresses can affect the microcirculation in different tissue structures. Despite having the lowest pressure values compared to the other mattresses, the visco-elastic foam/air mattress had the highest proportion of subjects with decreased blood flow indicating a more affected blood flow. Three young healthy individuals were identified with the high-risk blood flow response, indicating an innate vulnerability to pressure exposure and may not benefit from pressure-redistribution mattresses. Finally it was shown that the evaluation of pressure-redistribution support surfaces in terms of mean blood flow during and after tissue exposure is not feasible but assessment of pressure-induced vasodilation and reactive hyperemia could be a new possibility to assess individualized physiological measurements of mechanisms known to be related to pressure ulcer development.

Background. Pressure induced vasodilation (PIV) protects the skin from pressure induced ischemia. PIV responses at individual level during a long-term measurement period have not previously been described in an elderly population in a clinically relevant situation.

Aim. To describe individual PIV responses in a nursing home resident population for 1-hour periods of bed rest.

Method. From May 2011 to August 2012, blood flow at three tissue depths was measured for one hour over the sacrum in 0° supine position and 30° supine tilt position in 25 individuals aged 65 years or older while lying on a pressure redistributing mattress. Measurements were made using the non-invasive optical techniques Laser Doppler Flowmetry (LDF) and photoplethysmography. The individuals were divided into a PIV group and a non-PIV group based upon the LDF data.

Results. In the PIV group, the blood flow in almost all cases increased immediately and remained over baseline for the entire 60 minutes of loading in both positions, while the blood flow decreased immediately and remained below baseline in the non-PIV group. These blood flow patterns were also seen in deeper tissue layers although a PIV response was most common in the underlying tissue in both groups.

Conclusion. The cutaneous blood flow response among the nursing home residents was distinct, appeared early and remained during the one hour of loading in both the PIV and non-PIV group. The non-PIV group may be more vulnerable to pressure and thus may be at risk for pressure ulcer development. More research is needed in order to verify the results.

Background: Although repositioning is considered an important intervention to prevent pressure ulcers, tissue response during loading in different lying positions has not been adequately explored.

Aim: To compare the effects of different lying positions on interface pressure, skin temperature, and tissue blood flow in nursing home residents.

Method: From May 2011 to August 2012, interface pressure, skin temperature, and blood flow at three tissue depths were measured for 1 hr over the sacrum in 30 supine tilt and 0 supine positions and over the trochanter major in 30lateral and 90lateral positions in 25 residents aged 65 years or older. Measurement of interface pressure was accomplished using a pneumatic pressure transmitter connected to a digital manometer, skin temperature using a temperature sensor, and blood flow using photoplethysmography and laser Doppler flowmetry.

Results: Interface pressure was significantly higher in the 0supine and 90lateral positions than in 30supine tilt and 30 lateral positions. The mean skin temperature increased from baseline in all positions. Blood flow was significantly higher in the 30 supine tilt position compared to the other positions. A hyperemic response in the post pressure period was seen at almost all tissue depths and positions.

Conclusion: The 30supine tilt position generated less interface pressure and allowed greater tissue perfusion, suggesting that this position is the most beneficial.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize pressure-induced vasodilatation and reactive hyperemia at different sacral tissue depths in different populations under clinically relevant pressure exposure.

METHODS: Forty-two subjects (< 65 years), 38 subjects (≥ 65 years), and 35 patients (≥ 65 years) participated. Interface pressure, skin temperature, and blood flow at tissue depths of 1 mm, 2 mm, and 10 mm (using laser Doppler flowmetry and photoplethysmography) were measured in the sacral tissue before, during, and after load in a supine position.

RESULTS: pressure-induced vasodilatation and reactive hyperemia were observed at three tissue depths. At 10 mm depth, the proportion of subjects with a lack of pressure-induced vasodilatation was higher compared to superficial depths. The patients had higher interface pressure during load than the healthy individuals, but there were no significant differences in blood flow. Twenty-nine subjects in all three study groups were identified with a lack of pressure-induced vasodilatation and reactive hyperemia.

CONCLUSIONS: pressure-induced vasodilatation and reactive hyperemia can be measured at different tissue depths. A lack of these responses was found in healthy individuals as well as in patients indicating an innate susceptibility in some individuals, and are potential important factors to evaluate in order to better understand the etiology of pressure ulcers.

The overall aim of this thesis was to combine optical methods into a system with the ability to simultaneously measure blood flow changes at different tissue depths. The goal of such a system was to reveal vascular mechanisms relevant to pressure ulcer etiology under clinically relevant conditions and in relation to the evaluation of pressure-redistribution support surfaces.

This thesis consists of four quantitative, cross-sectional studies measuring blood flow responses before, during, and after pressure exposure of the sacral tissue. Two optical methods – photoplethysmography and laser Doppler flowmetry – were combined in a newly developed system that has the ability to discriminate blood flows at different tissue depths. Studies I and II explored blood flow responses at different depths in 17 individuals. In Study I the blood flow was related to tissue thickness and tissue compression during pressure exposure of ≥ 220 mmHg. In Study II, the sacral tissue was loaded with 37.5 mmHg and 50.0 mmHg, and the variation in blood flow was measured. Studies III and IV included 42 healthy individuals < 65 years, 38 healthy individuals ≥ 65 years, and 35 patients ≥ 65 years. Study III included between-subject comparisons of blood flow and pressure between individuals in the three study groups lying in supine positions on a standard hospital mattress. Study IV added within-subject comparisons while the individual was lying on four different types of mattress. The studies explored the vascular phenomena pressure-induced vasodilation (PIV) and reactive hyperemia (RH).

The most common blood flow response to tissue exposure in this thesis was PIV, although a decrease in blood flow (a lack of PIV) was observed in some individuals. The patients tended to have higher interface pressure during pressure exposure than the healthy groups but no differences in blood flow responses were seen. Our results showed that pressure levels that are normally considered to be harmless could have a significant effect on the microcirculation in different tissue structures. Differences in individual blood flow responses in terms of PIV and RH were seen, and a larger proportion of individuals lacked these responses in the deeper tissue structures compared to more superficial tissue structures.

This thesis identified PIV and RH that are important vascular mechanisms for pressure ulcer development and revealed for the first time that PIV and RH are present at different depths under clinically relevant conditions. The thesis also identified a population of individuals not previously identified who lack both PIV and RH and seem to be particularly vulnerable to pressure exposure. Further, this thesis has added a new perspective to the microcirculation in pressure ulcer etiology in terms of blood flow regulation and endothelial function that are anchored in clinically relevant studies. Finally, the evaluation of pressureredistribution support surfaces in terms of mean blood flow during and after tissue exposure was shown to be unfeasible, but the assessment of PIV and RH could provide a new possibility for measuring individual physiological responses that are known to be related to pressure ulcer development.

Aim. To report a study to compare the effects of different lying positions on tissue blood flow and skin temperature in older adult patients. This article reports the evaluation of study design and procedures. Background. To reduce risk of pressure ulcers, repositioning of immobile patients is a standard nursing practice; however, research into how different lying positions effect tissue microcirculation is limited. Design. Descriptive comparative design. Methods. From MarchOctober 2010, 20 inpatients, aged 65 years or older, were included in the study. Tissue blood flow and skin temperature were measured over bony prominences and in gluteus muscle in four supine and two lateral positions. Results. The blood flow over the bony prominence areas was most influenced in the superficial skin and especially in the 30 degrees lateral position, where the blood flow decreased significantly in comparison with the supine positions. There were significant individual differences in blood flow responses, but no common trend was identified among the patients considered at risk for pressure ulcer development. The study procedure worked well and was feasible to perform in an inpatient population. Conclusion. The lying positions seem to influence the tissue blood flow over the bony prominences in different ways in older adult inpatients, but further study is needed to confirm the results and to make recommendations to clinical practice. The study procedure worked well, although some minor adjustments with regard to heat accumulation will be made in future studies.

The aim of this study was to validate a non-invasive optical probe for simultaneous blood flow measurement at different vascular depths combining three photoplethysmography (PPG) channels and laser Doppler flowmeter (LDF). Wavelengths of the PPG were near-infrared 810 nm with source-to-detector separation of 10 and 25 mm, and green 560 nm with source-to-detector separation of 4 mm. The probe is intended for clinical studies of pressure ulcer aetiology. The probe was placed over the trapezius muscle, and depths from the skin to the trapezius muscle were measured using ultrasound and varied between 3.8 and 23 mm in the 11 subjects included. A provocation procedure inducing a local enhancement of blood flow in the trapezius muscle was used. Blood flows at rest and post-exercise were compared. It can be concluded that this probe is useful as a tool for discriminating between blood flows at different vascular tissue depths. The vascular depths reached for the different channels in this study were at least 23 mm for the near-infrared PPG channel (source-to-detector separation 25 mm), 10-15 mm for the near-infrared PPG channel (separation 10 mm), and shallower than 4 mm for both the green PPG channel (separation 4 mm) and LDF.

Pandgt;Objective: The aim was to investigate the existence of sacral tissue blood flow at different depths in response to external pressure and compression in elderly individuals using a newly developed optical probe prototype. Methods: The tissue blood flow and tissue thickness in the sacral area were measured during load in 17 individuals using laser Doppler flowmetry and photoplethysmography in a combined probe, and digital ultrasound. Results: The mean age was 68.6 +/- 7.0 years. While loading, the mean compression was 60.3 +/- 11.9%. The number of participants with existing blood flow while loading increased with increased measurement depth. None had enclosed blood flow deep in the tissue and at the same time an existing more superficial blood flow. Correlation between tissue thickness and BMI in unloaded and loaded sacral tissue was shown: r = 0.68 (P = 0.003) and r = 0.68 (P = 0.003). Conclusions: Sacral tissue is highly compressed by external load. There seems to be a difference in responses to load in the different tissue layers, as occluded blood flow in deeper tissue layers do not occur unless the blood flow in the superficial tissue layers is occluded.

Background/purpose: This study has evaluated a multi-parametric system combining laser Doppler flowmetry and photoplethysmography in a single probe for the simultaneous measurement of blood flow at different depths in the tissue. This system will be used to facilitate the understanding of pressure ulcer formation and in the evaluation of pressure ulcer mattresses.

Methods: The blood flow in the tissue over the sacrum was measured before, during and after loading with 37.5 mmHg, respectively, 50.0 mmHg. The evaluation of the system consisted of one clinical part, and the other part focusing on the technicalities of the probe prototype.

Results: An increase in blood flow while loading was the most common response, but when the blood flow decreased during loading it was most affected at the skin surface and the blood flow responses may be different due to depths of measurement. Reactive hyperaemia may occur more frequently in the superficial layers of the tissue.

Conclusion: The study showed that the new system is satisfactory for measuring tissue blood flow at different depths. The laser Doppler complements the photoplethysmography, and further development of the system into a thin flexible probe with the ability to measure a larger area is required.

Background: Pressure ulcers are a problem for immobile individuals, and having pressure ulcers impact and restrict the daily and are often associated with pain. Pressure ulcers occur frequently and cause high costs for the health care system. The prevention of pressure ulcers by focussing on different mattresses and overlays aimed to reduce the interface pressure or the pressure exposure of the tissue. The problem is the poor evaluation of this type of equipment. There are important factors regarding pressure ulcer development, pressure, shear, temperature and humidity. People are affected by external pressure in different ways and therefore it is preferable to measure the effect of pressure as a complement to the pressure measurement and thus we consider blood flow measurements to be a suitable method.

Aims: The aim of Study I, the first part in this thesis was to investigate the existence of sacral tissue blood flow at different depths in response to external pressure in elderly individuals as a part of evaluation of a. newly developed system. The aim of Study II, the second part was to evaluate a multiparametric system combining LDF and photoplethysmography into a single probe, for the simultaneous measurement of blood flow at different depths in the sacral tissue when the tissue is exposed to external load. This new system will be used to facilitate the understanding of pressure ulcer formation.

Methods: To be able to observe tissue blood flow, the non-invasive optical methods laser Doppler flowmetry and photoplethysmography were used. In this thesis a newly developed prototype probe was used, combining the two methods. Green light and infrared light were used in the PPG instrument for penetrating the depths of approximately 2 mm, 8 mm and 20 mm depths. A HeNe laser was used to measure the superficial skin blood flow, <1 mm depth. The prototype probe, made of silicone was fixed in a stiff 10×10 cm plate.

Seventeen active individuals over the age of 60 were recruited for the two studies. In Study I, the subject´s sacral blood flow and tissue thickness (using ultrasound) were measured in unloaded position and in supine position loading the area with their own body weight. In Study II, the sacral area was provoked with external load at 37.5 mmHg and 50.0 mmHg and the relative change in blood flow at different depths was observed before, during and after load.

Results: Study I showed that the sacral tissue in elderly individuals is highly affected by load and is compressed by 60.3 ± 11.9%. The mean sacral tissue thickness was 26 ± 13 mm in unloaded tissue and 10 ± 6 mm in loaded tissue. Correlations were found between BMI and tissue thickness: both TTunload r=0.68 (p=0.003) and TTload r=0.68 (p=0.003). Almost all subjects had affected blood flow superficially but only occasionally deeper in the tissue and findings may indicate that the blood flow is occluded in the superficial layer before it is occluded deeper in the tissue structure. The most common response in Study II was an increase in blood flow while loading. In those occasions when the blood flow decreased, it was mostly affected at the skin surface and the reactive hyperaemia occurred more frequently in the superficial tissue structures. The blood flow responses may be different in the different tissue layers.

Conclusions: The newly developed system was found to be suitable for measuring tissue blood flow at different depths; however the prototype probe had some limitations that will be solved in the further development of the system into a thin flexible probe with ability to measure a larger area.