Application of multipoint flexible optical probe for intra-abdominal visceral perfusion monitoring

The maintenance of postoperative blood flow is essential to ensure the optimal condition of transplanted organs. Further, early detection of circulatory disturbances is necessary to prevent graft failure, but is complicated by the closed space after surgery. Continuous and prompt inspection of organ blood flow can help to ensure post-operative blood flow monitoring. A recent study described the development of a wearable flexible sensor probe able to measure short-term changes in pulse waves and optical reflectance. Herein, we used this device to assess porcine kidney transplant models, including models of ischemia and congestion. Blood flow and organ surface color were measured using a sensor probe in the ischemia and congestion transplanted kidney models. Changes in the pulse wave and kidney color in the transplanted model were measured using multipoint mapping with a wearable device. The pulse wave signal decreased after arterial and venous clamping, and improved after clamp release. In the color sensor, the red and blue light reflectance signals decreased and increased after arterial clamping, respectively. Overall, these results show that this method effectively provides information to support the verification of ischemia and congestion of intra-abdominal transplanted organs, and can rapidly detect vascular circulatory disorders after surgery.