Non-invasive measurement of tissue oxygenation through Near-Infrared Spectroscopy
When it comes to chronic wound management, acute wounds in reconstructive surgery, or limb preservation, tissue oxygenation refers to oxygen saturation which is a measure of the percentage of dissolved oxygen in tissue. Tissue oxygenation takes place when oxygen molecules enter the tissues of humans when blood is oxygenated in the lungs through the oxygen molecules traveling from the air and into the blood.
Existing systems for monitoring tissue oxygenation are limited by the need for wired connections, the inability to provide real-time data, the extensive training, and specialization that is required for use, or the operation is restricted to surface tissues only. As an alternative to direct O2-sensing approaches, near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has demonstrated the ability to accurately quantify tissue oxygen saturation levels with zero patient contact. NIRS is an optical method consisting of illuminating chemical compounds that absorb, reflect, and scatter light directed at that compound. Faster detection of critical changes in tissue oxygenation could enable earlier and more successful intervention when tissue complications arise. NIR light is very useful in detecting oxygenated and deoxygenated blood, which conveys a comprehensive picture of tissue health and the healing capacity of acute and chronic wounds.
SnapshotNIR, by Kent Imaging, is a near-infrared (NIR), reflectance-based technology that measures tissue oxygen saturation in superficial tissue at the critical macrovascular level. Using multiple wavelengths of NIR light, SnapshotNIR measures the relative amounts of oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin in the areas where oxygen exchange is happening. SnapshotNIR provides users with a tissue oxygenation map that can be used for medical decision-making, such as tracking and trending oxygenation, and to evaluate tissue viability.
Kent Imaging has developed a cost-effective and easy-to-use point-of-care imaging device that is completely non-invasive, removing the need for patient contact or injected dyes. Snapshot NIR captures the availability of oxygenated blood in tissue in a matter of seconds, helping to provide diagnostic insight for improved decision-making throughout the continuum of care. The tracked and documented oxygenation data allows patients to be assessed for appropriate advanced wound care modalities, to monitor the therapeutic benefit, and share that information with the patient and between healthcare providers all in one handheld, portable device.
To learn more about the applications of Kent Imaging’s SnapshotNIR, click here.
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