Neonatal Monitoring

Cerebral blood flow, blood volume and brain oxygenation can be unstable and constantly changing in critically ill infants. Continuous monitoring of the hemodynamics and oxygenation is therefore crucial to prompt early and specific intervention, thereby preventing the development of irreversible injury.

Until recently, there were no noninvasive monitors capable of providing continuous, accurate measurements of cerebral blood oxygenation. Now, researchers have begun to develop near-infrared spectroscopy for simultaneous measurement of cerebral oxygen delivery and consumption in neonates. These developments will enable early and more specific detection of brain tissue compromise. Also, because the NIRS systems are often portable, they are well-suited to bedside (or, as in this case, cribside) monitoring -- which isn't always possible with other modalities.

Validation of the technique in the clinic is well under way; the NIRSOptix publications page includes several publications reporting the success of these studies. TechEn can help to design semi-custom systems for similar applications in neonatal monitoring. Please contact us to discuss your needs further.