Radiative transport in large arteries.
A refined model for the photon energy distribution in a living artery is established by solving the radiative transfer equation in a cylindrical geometry, using the Monte Carlo method. Combining this model with the most recent experimental values for the optical properties of flowing blood and the biomechanics of a blood-filled artery subject to a pulsatile pressure, we find that the optical intensity transmitted through large arteries decreases linearly with increasing arterial distension. This finding provides a solid theoretical foundation for measuring photoplethysmograms.
Gisela and Erwin Sick Chair of Micro-optics, Department of Microsystems Engineering, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
Dominic
D
Ruh
Gisela and Erwin Sick Chair of Micro-optics, Department of Microsystems Engineering, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
Sivaraman
S
Subramanian
Gisela and Erwin Sick Chair of Micro-optics, Department of Microsystems Engineering, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
Michael
M
Theodor
Gisela and Erwin Sick Chair of Micro-optics, Department of Microsystems Engineering, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
Hans
H
Zappe
Gisela and Erwin Sick Chair of Micro-optics, Department of Microsystems Engineering, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
Andreas
A
Seifert
(170.3660) Light propagation in tissues; (170.3890) Medical optics instrumentation; (170.4580) Optical diagnostics for medicine; (170.7050) Turbid media