Introduction

Jobsis first described the measurement of cerebral oxyhemoglobin saturation using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in 1977. This work was immediately recognized for its profound clinical implications, especially in the neonatal arena, and the search for the ideal neurologic neonatal monitor began. In 1985, when the NIROS-SCOPE was used on three infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Duke University, Brazy et al. made the following claim:

Available for many years, NIRS-based monitors of cerebral oxygenation have held the promise to fill the gap in neonatal neuromonitoring, but at this writing they are neither standard of care nor ubiquitous. Signs point to increased marketing of NIRS-based cerebral oximetry monitors to healthcare facilities in the United States, particularly to NICUs. In an effort to prepare clinicians for this impending deployment, we summarize in this chapter three decades of work done with NIRS to develop the cerebral oximeters available today.

Some view NIRS-based cerebral oximetry as purely an investigational tool. However, it is noteworthy that (1) the cerebral oximeter is frequently employed in the congenital cardiac surgical arena at major medical centers, and (2) competing companies have marketed cerebral oximeters that have been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).