TREND Probes

Moor Instruments manufacture a wide range of probes designed to help you assess flow from almost any tissue. We are more than happy to advise on your particular application but hope too that the following general notes are useful.

• Skin probes
• Needle probes
• Endoscopic probes
• Low profile

Skin probes are available with two main fibre configurations, twin or multi-fibre designs. Multi fibre designs usually contain a ring of up to eight collecting fibres around a central delivery fibre. This provides an averaged signal for a larger tissue area than would otherwise be provided by the conventional twin fibre model.

Skin probes are usually fixed directly to the skin with double sided adhesive discs, although they can be used in other applications (e.g. bone, visceral measurements) and with other equipment (e.g. Iontophoresis). Please refer to the Accessories and Iontophoresis catalogues.

DRT4 users can specify combined laser Doppler and temperature probes. Skin probes usually combine the temperature measurement within the probe head itself although it is possible to supply any probe with a separate temperature measuring branch. Please call for details.

The standard length for all probes is 2 metres. Longer lengths can be supplied on request. The range of probe holders for these (and other) probes is described in the accessories page.

DP1T-V2 Skin Probe A combined temperature and optic probe that delivers light at a right angle. Shares the same dimensions as the DP1-V2.

DP1T/7-V2 Skin Probe This is a large area probe that consists of 8 collecting fibres in a 2mm ring with a central delivery fibre, with temperature measurement Shares the same dimensions as the DP1-V2.

Needle probes are amongst the most versatile designs. They can be used for surface measurements, inserted into tissue or used for single vessel measurements. The compact design also lends itself to measurements in tissues with restricted access, e.g. teeth, conjunctiva and where micromanipulation is required.

Probes can be fixed in position over tissue with a normal laboratory manipulator by clamping onto the black acetal shank.

Deeper measurements are possible by inserting the probe tip into tissue bulk, for which finer needles are suitable (P4, P4s, P4sd). The finest needles can be inserted directly with the application of gentle pressure. Larger needles can still be used although it may be necessary to puncture the tissue first.

The use of specific probe holders can extend the application range of needle probes further still. Wet stick probe tips can be used to aid adhesion to moist/ mucosal surfaces. Dental putty can be used to create an individual probe holder for tooth measurement. Angled needle probes can be used to access hind teeth.

Although laser Doppler is not usually advocated for assessment of flow in single vessels, there is a role for the technique in the assessment of flow changes in small individual vessels. Moor manufactures a range of probe holders to aid this measurement.

DP4s Blunt Needle End Delivery Probes A hypodermic stainless steel tube of external diameter 0.46mm. The length is normally 30mm or 80mm. Separation of fibre centres is 0.25mm.

DP4sd Blunt needle Probe Side delivery A side delivery needle probe delivering light through a window on the side of a piece of 0.84mm OD needle. The window is within 5mm of probe tip. Typical lengths are 30-80mm.

Endoscopic probes enable internal investigations of blood flow in tissue beds such as colon, bronchus and urethra. The probes are available in a wide range of diameters to fit the biopsy channel of most endoscopes. All are made from a flexible yet tough nylon sleeving.

The finer diameter probes, although generally more delicate, can be used with some naso-gastric tubes: the tip of the n.g. tube is removed to allow an end viewing probe to protrude for measurement.

The standard length for all endoscopic probes is three metres. Longer lengths can be supplied and are particularly useful for larger animals (e.g. horses)

DP6b Endoscope End Delivery Probe An end delivery endoscope probe with flexible nylon sleeving. The DP6a has 2.1mm diameter sleeving and P6b has 1.35mm diameter sleeving. Both probes have steel tips, 6mm length, surrounded by the nylon sleeving. The DP6b has a fibre separation of 0.25mm. Standard fibre length is 3m. Also available are single fibre probes with detachable ‘slave’ connectors.

DP6asd Endoscope Side Delivery Probe A side delivery endoscope probe with flexible nylon sleeving diameter 2.1mm. The probe delivers light at a right angle via a window within 5mm of the probe tip. Fibre separation is 0.25mm. Standard fibre length is 3m.

Low profile designs are either used where access is difficult (e.g. oral mucosa) or to reduce application pressure if the probe is to be covered by bandages.
Various designs are available, including the titanium disc probe and the near flat silicon probe.

DP8c Low Profile Right Angle Delivery Suturable Probe The DP8c titanium disc probe has a 2.1mm OD flexible nylon sleeve with a titanium disc probe head. The probe head is 8mm OD and 2.5 mm high. The head has 4 suture holes drilled in it to provide stability during measurements. Light is delivered at a right angle from the probe head via a central window.

DP11sc Low Profile Right Angle Delivery The DP11sc is made of flexible silicon rubber tape, thickness 2mm, designed for use under a bandage or pressure cuff. The silicon tape is available at either 90 or 150mm lengths.