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The wonderful journey of near-infrared spectroscopy: How did it go from the scientific laboratory to the medical frontline?
Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is rapidly moving from scientific laboratories to the medical frontlines, supporting diagnosis and treatment in different fields. The core of this technology is to use the near-infrared light range between 780 and 2500 nanometers to analyze the composition and properties of substances. With the advancement of science and technology, the application scope of NIRS has expanded from agriculture and food science to clinical medicine, becoming an effective tool for monitoring patients' physiological conditions.
The technology is based on molecular transitions and combined vibrations. Although the absorption band of near-infrared light is usually 10 to 100 times smaller than that of mid-infrared light, NIRS can be used without much sample preparation. It is particularly important for clinical applications. Through multivariate calibration techniques such as principal component analysis and partial least squares, NIRS is able to fully extract chemical information and overcome the complexity of near-infrared spectroscopy.
"The history of near-infrared spectroscopy reflects an outstanding transition from basic science to practical applications."
The history of near-infrared spectroscopy can be traced back to the 19th century, when William Herschel first discovered the existence of near-infrared light, but its practical application began in the 1950s. With the evolution of technology, this tool is not only used to evaluate the quality of food and agricultural products, but has also gradually entered fields such as chemistry, medicine and environmental analysis. In particular, in 1994, NIRS was first used clinically as a functional instrument, making its application in the medical field possible, especially in the oxygenation assessment of the brain and peripheral tissues.
NIRS instruments are composed of a light source, a detector and a dispersion element, which can perform reflection or transmission spectroscopy measurements. Commonly used light sources include quartz halogen lamps and light emitting diodes (LEDs). For high-precision measurements, the lasers and frequency combs used not only increase the accuracy of the measurements, but also allow simultaneous acquisition of visible and near-infrared spectra.
"The real advantage of NIRS is that it can provide non-invasive information about blood oxygen concentration in tissues, providing clinicians with a reliable basis for diagnosis."
NIRS has many applications in medicine, especially in evaluating brain function and microvascular system. This technology can detect changes in local blood flow and oxygenation, allowing doctors to detect potential lesions, such as intracranial hemorrhage, and respond quickly. Compared with traditional functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), NIRS is portable and has minimal impact on patients, making it increasingly popular for use in newborns and other vulnerable patients.
In addition, NIRS also excels in other medical applications, including detecting breast tumors and monitoring changes in blood flow and oxygenation during sports training. By combining NIRS with other imaging techniques, such as optical coherence tomography (OCT), healthcare providers can gain a clearer understanding of a patient's physiological condition.
"The development of this technology is not only an advancement in medical technology, but also reflects the close connection between scientific research and clinical practice."
Looking to the future, the potential application areas of NIRS are still broad. NIRS has shown its irreplaceable value in monitoring the health status of elderly patients, tracking the performance of athletes, and developing new therapies. As the medical community becomes more accepting of this technology, the possibilities of NIRS will continue to expand, especially against the backdrop of the growing demand for non-invasive testing.
So, in the future wave of integration of technology and medicine, how will near-infrared spectroscopy continue to change our diagnosis and treatment methods?
