Tissue spectroscope: a novel in vivo approach to real time monitoring of tissue vitality.

Optical monitoring of various tissue physiological and biochemical parameters in real-time represents a significant new approach and a tool for better clinical diagnosis. The Tissue Spectroscope (TiSpec), developed and applied in experimental and clinical situations, is the first medical device that enables the real-time monitoring of three parameters representing the vitality of the tissue. Tissue vitality, which is correlated to the oxygen balance in the tissue, is defined as the ratio between O(2) supply and O(2) demand.