Time resolved spectroscopic (TRS) and continuous wave spectroscopic (CWS) studies of photon migration in human arms and limbs.

The combination of continuous light spectrophotometry (CWS) and time resolved spectrophotometry (TRS) afford for the first time a quantitation of the optical path and the concentration changes detected by the CWS instrument. The application of these two techniques and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to muscle during exercise affords a correlation of the biochemical activation and the response of the peripheral circulation (NRS) to the exercise stress (MRS). In preliminary experiments, the well-trained endurance performance limb shows a near perfect homeostasis to exercise stress while ischemia will cause a significant deoxygenation and an impairment of the work output. The use of this device in evaluation of peripheral vascular disease is obvious and hemoglobin deoxygenation may well occur at work levels less than those at which the diseased limb is capable.