This report describes the evaluation of a noninvasive laser Doppler system comprising a sensor, a digital signal processor (DSP) unit and a visualizing PC for continuous blood flow measurements. The first weighted moment of the power spectrum density of the laser Doppler sensor signal is a linear measure for blood flow. In order to estimate the power spectrum densities in real time, a first order autoregressive process model was developed. Due to this very fast signal processing, the system allows measurements both in microcirculation and of higher blood flows in larger vessels with a signal bandwidth of up to 200 kHz, e.g. in superficial arteries. Since the analytical dependency of blood flow and first spectral moment is only valid for tissue perfusion, Monte Carlo simulations were performed to evaluate this dependency also for higher blood flow velocities in larger vessels. A multilayered, semi-infinite tissue model essentially comprising epidermis, dermis and a blood vessel with a parabolic profile of constant blood flow was used varying different parameter like vessel diameter and skin thickness. Furthermore, model measurements were performed using a Delrine slab with a drilling through which constant flow of whole blood was provided. Both the Monte Carlo simulations and model measurements prove very high linear correlations between the calculated spectral moments and flow velocities.
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