Researchers Develop Technique to Measure Oxygen in Cancer and Stroke Patients

In a recent study published in the journal Stroke, researchers from the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Norris Cotton Cancer Center published their progress on the decades-old issue of how to measure oxygenation in deep-sited tissue. The new technique uses Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) oximetry, and will help clinicians directly measure and schedule treatments at times of high oxygen levels in cancer and stroke patients, in order to improve outcomes. Oxygen measurement in deep-sited tissue has been a challenge for researchers in previous studies, which limited the understanding of various pathologies in large animals and humans. During the current study, the research team developed implantable resonators made of thin non-magnetic copper wire to facilitate direct and repeated measurement of tissue oxygenation at any depth from the surface. In their most recent experiment, which demonstrated the efficacy of in vivo EPR oximetry, they used a one-time implementation of the oxygen probes in the brain of a rabbit and successfully monitored oxygen levels for several weeks. “Other than the implantation, which is done under anesthesia, the rest of the procedure for oxygen measurements is entirely non-invasive,” explained the lead author of the study. “We anticipate that a better understanding of oxygen levels in stroke, for instance, will guide the development of strategies to significantly improve oxygen levels in the ischemic regions of the brain and thereby improve outcomes.” To read more about this study, click here.