Researchers Develop Probe to Monitor Recovery from Shock

Researchers from the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China have developed a portable probe that uses near-infrared light to measure blood oxygen saturation in the tissue surrounding the central internal jugular vein in the neck.

The probe, described in The Optical Society’s journal Biomedical Optical Express, allows doctors to continuously monitor a patient’s recovery from shock.

The current go-to method for monitoring the status of hypovolemic and septic shock, the common consequence of hemorrhage, involves drawing periodic blood samples from someone’s neck to analyze oxygen levels.

Ting Li, an associate professor at the university, described the current method as “invasive, discontinuous, and time-consuming.” — Michael Cipriano