Blood-flow measurement in muscle with Xe-133.

An alternative method to the conventional miniature probe system for the measurement of blood flow in muscle has been developed. Xenon-133 was injected into the quadriceps muscles of ten subjects. A gamma camera and an online computer were then used to measure the half-clearance time of the Xe-133 while the subject was both at rest and exercising on an upright bicycle ergometer. The blood flow in the muscle was then calculated from the acquired data.