Thermal Pulse Decay Method for Simultaneous Measurement of Local Thermal Conductivity and Blood Perfusion: A Theoretical Analysis

Presented here is a theoretical analysis of the recently developed thermal pulse decay (TPD) method for a simultaneous measurement of local tissue conductivity and blood perfusion rate. The paper describes the theoretical model upon which the TPD method is based and details its capabilities and limitations. The theoretical aspects that affected the development of the measurement protocol are also discussed. The performance of the method is demonstrated with an experimental example which compares the measurements of local kidney blood perfusion rates made using the TPD method with the total renal blood flow obtained coincidentally using a blood flowmeter, in an anesthetized dog.