Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) Tissue Oximetry – Novel method of measuring oxygen levels in body

Near- Infrared Spectroscopy Tissue Oximetry is an emerging noninvasive method used to evaluate tissue oxygenation. It can measure oxygen delivery to the cells of the brain and kidneys, two important vital organs. Though this technology was first described more than 40 years ago, use of NIRS has increased significantly worldwide in the past decade. NIRS is based on the fact that near-infrared light is able to penetrate biologic tissue and can obtain real-time noninvasive information on tissue oxygenation and metabolism. Oxygenation-dependent light absorbing characteristics of hemoglobin in blood is utilised in NIRS.