[Semiquantitative determination of the cutaneous blood flow]

A semiquantitative determination of the cutaneous blood flow is possible by a simple thermic method using a heat conduction probe. There is a quantitative uncertainty because of the possible existence of relatively big vessels which do not participate in the blood supply of the examined tissular region but in the determination of the convection within the temperature field of the thermal conduction probe. The values of blood circulation derived from the stationary temperature field will therefore always be higher than the values of the real blood supply. This procedure necessitates a determination of the tissular heat conductivity. This will not be possible in all cutaneous regions. A relative method can be useful here inserting a binding lambda G value which lies below the thermal transport value lambda for normal blood circulation.