NOV 1 Colloquia

Miniaturization of electrochemical and optical detection devices enabled the investigation of oxygen supply in the micro cosmos of capillaries and cells in living tissues. Using micro light guide spectrometry, local pO2 and ion sensitive electrodes revealed an astonishing heterogeneity in oxygen supply and tissue function. The interrelationship between supply and regulation of tissue function was investigated. Measurements in the beating heart, brain and skeletal muscle helped prove the hypothesis that supply and function is highly regulated on cellular level. International collaboration with research oriented clinical partners, biophysicists, and physiologists resulted in the discovery of the regulation hierarchy in complex living systems. (Functional units, organs, living animals, and humans). Basic investigation, development of necessary detection devices, understanding of light tissue interaction was performed in an interdisciplinary group composed of physicians, physicists, biologists, material scientists and computer scientist providing the critical mass for the successful research.