Table 2. Protocol steps and the targeted StO₂ in two compartments for the three experiments involving blood.

Step	Time/min	Description	Targeted StO2 / %
			Deep	Superficial
P1		Turn on the laser and let it warm up for at least 1 hour
P2		Assemble three containers and add water with PBS to both compartments
P3		Start stirring and heating, and attach two thermometers
P4		Remove air bubbles in both compartments by tapping with a long metal rod
P5		Add SMOFlipid to both compartments, which makes them opaque
P6		Measure IRF and then start measuring on the phantom
S1		Add blood to each compartment	∼100	∼100
S2	0	Add yeast to the Deep compartment
		Wait 13 min until plateau (cycle #1)	100 → 0
S3	13–15	Oxygenate the Deep compartment	0 → 100
		Wait 15 min until plateau (cycle #2)	100 → 0
S4	31	Add yeast to the Superficial compartment
		Wait 15 min until plateau (cycle #3)		100 → 0
S5	45–47	Oxygenate the Deep compartment	0 → 100
		Wait 13 min until plateau (cycle #4)	100 → 0
S6	60–62	Oxygenate the Deep compartment	0 → 100
		Wait 15 min until plateau (cycle #5)	100 → 0
S7	77–79	Oxygenate the Deep compartment	0 → 100
		Wait 13 min until plateau (cycle #6)	100 → 0