Diffuse Optical Evaluation of Muscle Hemodynamic Improvements by Electrical Stimulation

Guoqiang Yu, Ph.D., University of Kentucky, Center for Biomedical Engineering

Objectives:

The goal of this study is to investigate tissue BF and oxygenation in areas that are high risk to develop ulcers before, during, and after ES in patients with SCI. Healthy subjects will also be recruited as controls. For healthy subjects, our study will focus on the evaluation of BF and oxygenation responses to ES, and comparison of microcirculation differences between stimulated and non-stimulated locations in deep tissues. For individuals with SCI, one of our aims is to evaluate the hemodynamic impairment (e.g. BF, oxy- and deoxy-hemoglobin concentrations, tHbC, StO2) caused by pressure ulcers.

The second aim is to monitor the ES-created improvements and to investigate if these improvements can help cure of pressure ulcer. We also investigate the potential difference of ES-induced hemodynamic response between the SCI and healthy subjects. We expect to find the hemodynamic and metabolism factors involved in the occurrence of pressure ulcers and the appropriate ES method to improve tissue microcirculation. We will select different ES parameters (frequency, wave form, stimulation current, pulse width) to optimize the ulcer treatment.