Portamon Near Infrared Spectroscopy Tissue Saturation Monitor
Wireless NIRS System

Introduction

All cells in all organs of the body have a constant but variable need for oxygen. However the body stores for oxygen are minimal. So a constant and adequate supply of oxygen to the tissues through the circulation is essential. Any disturbance of tissue oxygenation will lead to irreversible damage very soon.

Optical oximetry, and Near InfraRed Spectroscopy (NIRS) in specific, is a tool for the assessment of the oxygenation status and hemodynamics of various organs, e.g. muscle and brain.

Near infrared spectroscopy, the technique on which the Oxymon and the PortaMon is based, relies mainly on two characteristics of human tissue. Firstly, the relative transparency of tissue for light in the NIR range, and secondly, the oxygenation dependent light absorbing characteristics of hemoglobin. By using a number of wavelengths the relative changes in concentrations of the hemoglobin’s can be displayed continuously. Using this principle it becomes possible to monitor:

• Non-invasively.
• In the lab, or even in the field with the PortaMon.
• Continuously.
• Without the need of a special infrastructure.
• Without specially trained personnel.
• Relatively cheap.

Difference with pulse oximetry

The technique on which near infrared spectroscopy is based, strongly resembles to the technique of pulse oximetry. The main difference is the tissue which is sampled. With pulse oximetry the percentage of oxygenated hemoglobin in the arterial blood is calculated. With NIRS the changes in oxy- and deoxyhemoglobin (and optionally the percentage of oxygenated hemoglobin) in the tissue under investigation (capillaries) is measured, which contains both arterial and venous blood.

PortaMon

The PortaMon is a wireless and portable Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) system specifically for measurements on muscle tissue. The system measures the tissue saturation of the investigated muscle. This is called this tissue saturation index (TSI). Besides TSI the system also measures changes in oxygenation in terms of oxy-hemoglobin, deoxy-hemoglobin and total hemoglobin, which is an indication of the blood volume in the muscle.

Typical applications of the PortaMon are found in sports science, training evaluation, rehabilitation medicine, high altitude research, compartment syndrome, occupational health and peripheral vascular disease.

• Measures oxy, de-oxy and total hemoglobin and tissue saturation
• Bluetooth connection
• on-line or on-board data collection
• State-of-the-art exchangeable and rechargeable battery for 8 to 10 hours operation time
• The size of a cell phone (83 by 52 by 20 mm)
• Weighs only 88 gram, including battery
• Superior analysis software, Oxysoft
• Option for built-in accelerometer

PortaMon Practical Use in Sport

"We use the PortaMon both in a lab setup and in the field. In the field you have two options. If you use the long range antenna you have an approximately 800 m radius in an open field to still have the info on oxygenation live on your PC screen. If you go further you have a standalone mode to store the data for up to 6 hours depending on the sampling rate. Then you can download the info and review the full workout. We did this in sports like running, road cycling and mountain biking in California in the desert under tough conditions with dust and heat and very rough downhill courses on the bike including a crash.

The Portamon is absolutely top class. It is unbelievable how tough the equipment is and how incredible the Bluetooth contact works. The Portamon is the future of intensity workouts and controlled physiological intervals based on real physiological information rather than on how many fingers you have and on how many time the clock goes around a watch or how long a track is. You can see on the TSI % and as well on much other information the real physiological stress you apply. Rest periods between intervals will be based on physiologioical recovery rather than physical convenience of coaches."

- Juerg Feldmann

Sample Interval Workout

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