A faster procedure for the noninvasive transient thermal clearance method for skin blood flow measurement and several applications

The noninvasive transient thermal clearance method is based on thermally insulating the skin under examination and measuring the time constant of the resultant exponential temperature increase. A faster procedure, which avoids the need of reaching final equilibrium skin temperature, enables shortening of the long duration of measurement time. Two applications of the method are also presented. Skin blood flow and microvascular resistance were measured in the foot, and the relationship between them and systolic brachial blood pressure is described. Changes in skin blood flow during radiotherapy were found, providing information on individual tissue radiosensitivity.