title: A discrepancy of penile hemodynamics during visual sexual stimulation observed by near-infrared spectroscopy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In this paper, we observed a discrepancy of penile hemodynamics dependent on location by using near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) sensor, and showcase NIRS as a potentially suitable sensor in supplementing the diagnosis and treatment of erectile dysfunction.
  
  
  METHODS
  To observe the effect that location has on penile hemodynamics, the NIRS sensor was placed on the top and the side of genital organ, and oxy- (HbO), deoxy-(RHb), and total (HbT) hemoglobin concentration changes were acquired. Our results from 6 healthy subjects show that hemodynamic changes vary depending on where the probe was placed. To observe a statistical difference between the signals, a Wilcoxon signed-rank test was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The result shows a significant difference (p < 0.05) between concentration changes of RHb and HbT depending on the probes' location. Moreover, the sensor placed on the top of the organ shows a rise of HbO and HbT concentration while RHb concentration decreased. However, hemodynamics from the side of the organ showed that RHb concentration increased along with HbO.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The outcomes demonstrates an ability of NIRS to be sensitive enough to detect the different hemodynamic changes in various locations of a healthy male genital organ during visual sexual stimulation. The results also show the importance of sensor location on the genital organ for the resulting hemodynamic changes. We can foresee our results as a way for clinicians to obtain more accurate hemodynamic measurements from the penis, and also show the likelihood for NIRS enhanced diagnosis tool of male erectile dysfunction over the current standards.
authors: School of Information and Communications, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, 500-712, Korea. evgenii@gist.ac.kr.
authors: Evgenii
authors: E
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Medical System Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, 500-712, Korea. kong9018@gist.ac.kr.
authors: Songhyun
authors: S
authors: Lee
authors: School of Information and Communications, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, 500-712, Korea. zephphillips@gist.ac.kr.
authors: Zephaniah
authors: Z
authors: Phillips
authors: School of Information and Communications, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, 500-712, Korea. jaekim@gist.ac.kr.|Department of Medical System Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, 500-712, Korea. jaekim@gist.ac.kr.
authors: Jae G
authors: JG
authors: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000175:diagnosis; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010108:Oxyhemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000502:physiology*; D010413:Penis / Q000098:blood supply*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology*; D012494:Sampling Studies; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D010108:Oxyhemoglobins