A cerebral oximeter for use with a sensor unit (12) applied to the fore- head of a patient, or other such selected cranial area, whihe emits selected wave- lengths of electromagnetic radiation (e.g. light in the near infrared range) that passes through a selected volume of brain tissue in- side the patient's skull. The emitted wavelengths are se- lectively absorbed by the blood within the irradiated brain tissues, present in ar- terial, venous, capillary, and/or other supply, and the resulting radiation is detected and analyzed by a computer (20) to determine the hemoglobin oxygen sat- uration of the composite blood supply within the se- lected volume of brain tis- sue, with readout provided as a quantified particular value (e.g., a number representing the instantaneous value measured), and/ or also in graphical or other time-representative display, as far example on the CRT monitor (22) of the computer, with attendant storage of digital values for record purposes or other subsequent use.</SDOA B>
OPTICAL CEREBRAL OXIMETER