title: A new apparatus for non-invasive positioning of laser Doppler flux (LDF) probes in skin areas where local attachment is impossible.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Laser Doppler flux (LDF) measurements are used in various medical fields, e.g. in the evaluation of microangiopathy. LDF measurements can be performed on unaltered skin as well as in wounds or skin flaps to measure blood flow properties under different conditions. In day-to-day practice, it is often difficult to carry out LDF measurements in the mentioned areas because a probe cannot be fixed accurately on a sterile wound or in an ulcer. The inadequacy of the peripheral equipment presently available for such potentially significant areas of application contrasts with the high technological standard of laser Doppler fluxmetry touted by the manufacturers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have developed a completely new tripod probe holder (Pat. pending) for both standard and special probes. This new probe holder allows measurements without touching the surface by fixing the holder in remote distance to the area measured. Even in wounds or other critical areas as skin flaps LDF measurements can be performed. The construction and possible applications of this novel peripheral device will be discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital, University of Tübingen.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Klyscz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jünger
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rassner
mesh_terms: D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply*; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000502:physiology*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*