Abstract
Optical methods are well suited for medical measurements of skin since they are non-invasive, non-contact methods. The sampling depths of the optical methods are not necessarily very large but sufficient for skin. Optical measurement systems are usually low cost but yet fast and high resolution can be achieved. The recent progress of optical sensor and illumination technologies makes them increasingly attractive. The current assortment of optical methods has many tricks to be used for skin flap viability assessment, and many of them have already been tested for that purpose. This chapter reviews 11 different optical methods, including laser Doppler flowmetry, laser Doppler imaging, laser speckle imaging, pulse oximeter, photoplethysmography, near-infrared spectroscopy, diffuse optical imaging and diffuse optical tomography. The theoretical basis behind the methods is explained, and the suitability of the methods for skin flap assessment is analysed.
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