Plethysmography. A treatise on its evolution, differential methodology and clinical utilization. 1973.

Plethysmography is the observation and use of volume changes in physiologic entities. The most influential short-term effect is caused by the pulsatile flow of blood. Attempts to convert these pulsatile volume changes into minimum required blood flow per unit of time have been successful clinically. Plethysmography can be accomplished by encapsulating digits, limbs and entire bodies. Volume changes in the member cause volume changes in the fixed chamber which then influences an observational medium. Plethysmography can also be accomplished with a strain gauge, direct application of electricity to flesh, changing opacity effects on tissue, ultrasound (the Doppler effect) or the piezoelectric method. The piezoelectric plethysmograph was successfully tested on 55 patients.

Spinal evoked potential in the monkey.

Computer-averaged evoked potential responses (EPs) to stimulation of the sciatic nerve and cervical spinal cord were recorded from the dura and skin over the causda equina and spinal cord in seven monkeys, three with chronic spinal cord lesions. Sciatic EPs consited of predominantly negative triphasic propagated potentials recorded at all spinal levels and greatest in amplitude over the cauda equina and caudal spinal cord. The conduction velocity of this EP was faster over the cauda equina and rostral spinal cord than over caudal cord segments. Triphasic potentials were succeeded by small negative potentials over the cauda equina and larger negative potentials over the lumbar enlargement. Sciatic EPs over the upper lumbar and thoracic cord were more sensitive to asphyxia than the initial triphasic potentials recorded over cauda equina and caudal cord but resisted changes from increasing the rate of stimulation up to 100 per second. Propagated thoracic EPs were preceded by nonpropagated potentials. The longer latency negative potentials occurring locally over the cauda equina and lower lumbar enlargement were abolished at levels of asphyxia and were attenuated at rates of stimulation that did not affect the preceding triphasic potentials. Following complete spinal cord transection, nonpropagated sciatic EPs were recorded in leads rostral to the section. In preparations with chronic partial cord hemisection involving dorsal and lateral quadrants, ipsilateral sciatic EPs had increased latency, reduced amplitude, and poor definition in the vicinity of and rostral to the lesion. Direct cervical cord stimulation elicited caudally propagated potentials which were followed by large, broad potentials over the number enlargement.