title: Detection of pulpal circulation in vitro by pulse oximetry.
abstract: Evaluation of pulse oximetry as a potential method of determining pulp vitality was the subject of this research. An in vitro model of pulpal circulation was fabricated to test the design for a dental pulse oximetry sensor. Blood samples equilibrated with hypoxic gas mixtures were circulated through the model by a peristaltic pump. A pulse was simulated by introduction of gas bubbles into the blood circulation. Pulse oximeter readings for saturation were recorded and compared with blood gas analysis results. Statistical analysis revealed no difference between pulse oximetry and blood gas analysis with a highly significant correlation coefficient. Clinical evaluation of this application is currently in progress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, University of Iowa College of Dentistry, Iowa City 52240, USA.
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Noblett
authors.forename: L R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Wilcox
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Scamman
authors.forename: W T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Diaz-Arnold
mesh_terms: D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000098:blood supply*; D003791:Dental Pulp Test / Q000379:methods*; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D008833:Microcirculation; D010092:Oximetry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen