ESTIMATION OF CEREBRAL BLOOD-FLOW FROM THERMAL MEASUREMENT

A thermal method has been developed to quantify continuous perfusion c hanges with self-calibration. A dynamic, one-dimensional bio-heat tran sfer model of the thermal probe and tissue describes the system respon se to either continuous or transient heating. A nonlinear least-square s fit of the model to experimental data yields estimates of the baseli ne perfusion and other model parameters. With a partial analytical sol ution of the model, the optimal estimation procedure is two orders of magnitude more efficient than with a total numerical solution of the m odel system. Experimental data is used to estimate the operating relat ions between perfusion and the temperature measurement. A new procedur e has also been presented to obtain the dynamic response of the system for continuous measurement of perfusion.