INVOS™ Technology

INVOS™ system technology gives you a noninvasive “window” to the body’s microvasculature; a direct and dynamic site of gas exchange that transports about half the body’s blood volume. Measuring blood oxygenation in the microvasculature results in sensitive and site-specific insights on perfusion adequacy or – with multi-sensor monitoring – perfusion distribution across the brain and in other tissue beneath the sensor.

Unlike parameters that measure only venous or arterial blood, INVOS™ technology includes contributions from both in a 3:1 ratio, yielding a venous-weighted percent saturation. This provides real-time data about the balance or imbalance of oxygen supply and demand, thus reflecting venous oxygen reserve - the oxygen remaining after extraction by tissues and vital organs. Decreases in venous oxygen reserve can be a warning of developing pathology and deteriorating patient condition. Published adult data has shown that an rSO2 of 50 or a 20% decline from baseline are cause for concern and intervention, and an rSO2 of 40 or a 25% decline from baseline are associated with neurologic dysfunction and other adverse outcomes.^{1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9}

The INVOS™ system utilizes near-infrared light at wavelengths that are absorbed by hemoglobin (730 and 810 nm). Light travels from the sensor’s light emitting diode to either a proximal or distal detector, permitting separate data processing of shallow and deep optical signals. INVOS™ system’s ability to localize the area of measurement, called spatial resolution, has been empirically validated in human subjects.¹⁰

The result is continuous, real-time adequacy of perfusion data in up to four sites of your choice.