System and method for detection of skin wounds and compartment syndromes

1. A method for determining fluid parameters of living tissue comprising:

transmitting electromagnetic radiation at a tissue site using at least one emitter;

detecting the electromagnetic radiation reflected and scattered by living tissue beneath the tissue site using at least one photodetector, the photodetector generating a signal corresponding to the detected electromagnetic radiation;

processing the generated signal to calculate localized fluid parameters of the living tissue beneath the tissue site;

correlating the calculated fluid parameters to a condition status indicative of a localized accumulation of fluid in the living tissue and a potential skin wound by comparing the calculated fluid parameters with baseline fluid parameters specific to the living tissue and correlating the comparison to the condition status; and

indicating the condition status on a display.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein calculating fluid parameters comprises calculating a ratio of water-to-lean mass.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein calculating fluid parameters comprises calculating a ratio of water-to-water, protein and fat.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein calculating fluid parameters comprises calculating a ratio of water-to-fat.

5. The method of claim 1 , comprising transmitting electromagnetic radiation over an area of tissue.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein indicating condition status comprises displaying discrete values, wherein a first discrete value indicates normal status, second discrete value indicates abnormal status, and a third discrete value indicates severely abnormal status.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the baseline parameters correspond to fluid parameters of layers of skin.

8. The method of claim 1 , comprising generating and displaying a graphical representation of the condition status.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the graphical representation is color coded to represent the condition status.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the baseline fluid parameters comprises an earlier measurement of normal fluid content from the living tissue of a patient.

11. The method of claim 1 , comprising processing the generated signal to calculate localized fluid parameters of a compartment beneath the tissue site, and correlating the calculated fluid parameters to a condition status indicative of a localized accumulation of fluid in the compartment and a potential compartment syndrome by comparing the calculated fluid parameters with baseline fluid parameters specific to the compartment and correlating the comparison to the condition status.

12. A system for detecting compartment syndromes comprising:

a sensor comprising at least one emitter and at least one detector;

a spectrophotometric unit communicatively coupled to the sensor and configured to calculate localized fluid parameters and correlate the localized fluid parameters to a condition status indicative of a localized accumulation of fluid in a compartment and compartment syndrome, wherein the spectrophotometric unit compares the calculated fluid parameters to baseline fluid parameters specific to the compartment and determines the condition status from the comparison; and

a display coupled to the spectrophotometric unit configured to display the condition status.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the sensor comprises a location sensor, the location sensor being configured to indicate a position of the sensor relative to a start position.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the location sensor comprises a button configured to indicate the start position of the sensor by actuation of the button.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the location sensor is configured to indicate the start position of the sensor by a voice command.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the location sensor is configured to indicate the start position of the sensor relative to a fixed point on a bed or operating table.

17. The system of claim 13 , wherein the location sensor comprises a roller-ball sensor.

18. The system of claim 12 , wherein the sensor comprises a thermometer, the thermometer configured to take temperature readings as the spectrophotometric unit calculates fluid parameters.

19. The system of claim 12 , wherein the sensor comprises a roller-ball and a thermometer, wherein the roller-ball is configured to indicate a position of a sensor relative to a start position, the start position being determined by actuation of a button, and wherein the thermometer is configured to take temperature readings as the spectrophotometer unit calculates fluid parameters.

20. The system of claim 12 , wherein the spectrophotometric unit is coupled to the sensor via a cable.

21. The system of claim 12 , wherein the sensor communicates with the spectrophotometric unit wirelessly.

22. The system of claim 12 , wherein at least one detector comprises multiple detectors positioned at varying distances from the at least one emitter.

23. The system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one emitter comprises multiple emitters positioned at varying distances from the at least one detector.

24. The system of claim 12 , wherein the baseline fluid parameters comprises an earlier measurement of normal fluid content of a patient.

25. The system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one detector and the at least one emitter are disposed between 1 to 5 mm apart.

26. The system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one detector and the at least one emitter are disposed between 5 to 15 mm apart.

27. The system of claim 12 , wherein the spectrophotometric unit is configured to calculate localized fluid parameters and correlate the localized fluid parameters to a condition status indicative of a localized accumulation of fluid in living tissue and a potential skin wound, wherein the spectrophotometric unit compares the calculated fluid parameters to baseline fluid parameters specific to the living tissue and determines the condition status from the comparison.

28. A method for diagnosing skin wounds and compartment syndromes comprising:

selecting a baseline fluid parameter specific to a living tissue or compartment beneath a tissue site in a spectrophotometric device;

using the spectrophotometric device to calculate data indicative of a potential skin wound or compartment syndrome, comprising placing a sensor on an area of a patient's skin over the tissue site for which baseline fluid parameters were entered and taking localized measurements using the sensor, the spectrophotometric device being configured to display the localized measurements; and

making a diagnosis of the potential skin wound or compartment syndrome based on consideration of the patient's medical history and the data calculated by the spectrophotometric monitor.

29. The method of claim 28 , wherein entering baseline fluid parameters comprises entering fluid parameters corresponding to a normal tissue fluid content of the living tissue or compartment to be measured by the spectrophotometric monitor.

30. The method of claim 29 , wherein said normal fluid content comprises earlier measurements from the tissue site on the patient.

31. The method of claim 28 , wherein using a spectrophotometric monitor comprises moving a sensor across an area of the patient's skin.