Entirely Implanted Wireless Doppler Sensor for Monitoring Venous Flow

BACKGROUND: Microvascular anastomotic failure remains an uncommon but potentially devastating problem in free tissue transfer. Implantable vascular Doppler monitoring results in increased fl ap salvage rates. However, these devices are cumbersome, have easily dislodged wire, possible pedicle compromise upon probe removal, and false positives due to gapping between probe head and vessel. In an effort to circumvent these shortcomings, we have developed an entirely implantable wireless Doppler sensor and tested this prototype in a pig femoral vein model.