New Method for Continuous Real-time Assessment of Local Blood Oxygenation

Abstract

A novel intravascular blood oxygenation sensing wire has been developed to facilitate continuous, real-time measurement of local blood oxygenation during endovascular interventions. Its performance was evaluated by comparison with intermittent arterial blood gas sampling and continuous pulse oximetry. This study reports preliminary in-vivo results obtained from three porcine models, in which the monitoring modalities were employed concurrently. The comparative assessment was conducted under two distinct physiological conditions: (1) unobstructed vascular flow, and (2) obstructed flow conditions, induced by balloon-catheter occlusion of a targeted vascular segment. Initial findings demonstrate that the oxygenation sensing wire provides continuous and localized intravascular oxygenation assessment. During unobstructed flow, its measurements exhibit strong concordance with systemic arterial blood gas and pulse oximetry readings. Under flow obstruction conditions, the sensing wire’s readings diverge from systemic pulse oximetry owing to its unique capability to directly measure local oxygenation distal to vascular occlusions, which is an assessment not achievable with traditional arterial blood gas or pulse oximetry techniques.