Comparison of Some Methods for Measuring Peripheral Blood Flow

Abstract

Comparative measurements of the rate of blood flow have been made with four methods. Venous occlusion plethysmography was used with a rubber tambour as volume recorder. A strain-gauge method according to Whitney was applied after certain modifications by which its applicability could be extended to objects as small as fingers. The rate of flow could be found by measuring the increase of radioactivity following venous occlusion in the case of subjects which had received an injection with labelled albumin. The last method was a calorimetric method applicable to the finger. Except in the case of calorimetry, all methods, applied simultaneously, showed results which were in good agreement. The strain-gauge method is shown to have advantages in its ease of application.