Healthliant Ventures and Kent Imaging Launch Pilot Partnership to Bring Real-Time Tissue Oxygenation Imaging to Tanner Health
Healthliant Ventures, the innovation arm of Tanner Health, has announced a new strategic collaboration with Kent Imaging, a leader in non-invasive tissue imaging technologies, to introduce real-time tissue oxygenation imaging into Tanner Health’s clinical workflows. The partnership centers on integrating Kent Imaging’s SnapshotNIR® device, a near-infrared imaging technology designed to measure and visualize tissue oxygenation, into everyday clinical practice.
This initiative will begin with a two-phase project, starting with a pilot program aimed at evaluating how the technology can enhance wound care, improve decision-making, and streamline documentation for Tanner Health’s clinicians.
A Two-Phase Roadmap for Integration
In the first phase of the collaboration, the pilot program will focus on introducing the SnapshotNIR device into Tanner Health’s daily clinical workflows. Physicians, nurses, and medical staff will gain hands-on experience in using the device for wound assessments, surgical decision-making, and vascular evaluations. The goal of this stage is to help staff understand the value of tissue oxygenation imaging and observe how it can complement their clinical judgment.
A major emphasis of the pilot is workflow efficiency. Clinicians will be trained not only on capturing oxygenation images but also on uploading them directly into patient charts. This step is critical in demonstrating how the device can seamlessly fit into existing processes without creating additional documentation burdens.
Following the pilot, the second phase of the project will expand into deep integration with Tanner Health’s Epic electronic health record (EHR) system. By embedding SnapshotNIR imaging capabilities directly into Epic, clinicians will be able to upload images automatically, document decisions more effectively, and track patient progress with greater precision. This enhanced integration is expected to optimize care documentation, improve communication between care teams, and boost overall clinical efficiency.
Clinical Impact: A New Layer of Insight
The introduction of SnapshotNIR has already shown encouraging results in early use cases. According to Christine Shettel, RN, vice president of clinical services at Kent Imaging, clinicians quickly began incorporating oxygenation imaging data into their treatment plans.
“From a clinical perspective, it was exciting to see physicians and medical staff quickly incorporate information from SnapshotNIR into their decision-making and care planning,” Shettel said. “This led to expedited referrals — such as for vascular surgery — and also provided confirmation when treatment plans were effective. With continued clinical support and training, we expect these positive outcomes to grow even further.”
This feedback underscores how oxygenation imaging can go beyond traditional wound assessment methods. In cases where tissue viability is uncertain, SnapshotNIR provides a real-time, non-invasive visualization of oxygen levels in tissue, giving clinicians confidence in their choices. This reduces unnecessary delays, supports timely interventions, and confirms when treatment strategies are working.
The Technology Behind SnapshotNIR
The SnapshotNIR device employs near-infrared spectroscopy to capture tissue oxygen saturation without the need for invasive procedures. By visualizing oxygen levels in tissues, the device helps clinicians evaluate whether wounds are healing properly, whether surgical sites are viable, and whether vascular interventions are needed.
Traditional wound assessment often relies on visual inspection, manual probing, or subjective judgment. While these methods are valuable, they lack the ability to provide quantitative, objective data on tissue health. SnapshotNIR fills this gap by offering a visual map of oxygenation that clinicians can interpret instantly.
This technology is particularly useful in wound care management, where poor circulation or delayed healing can lead to severe complications. In addition, vascular specialists and surgeons can benefit from its ability to assess tissue perfusion in real-time, which can guide both immediate decisions and long-term treatment planning.
A Strategic Partnership for Better Patient Outcomes
For Kent Imaging, the partnership with Tanner Health represents a significant step in expanding the reach of SnapshotNIR and demonstrating its clinical value in real-world healthcare settings.
“We’re excited to partner with Healthliant Ventures and Tanner Health to bring the power of SnapshotNIR into the clinical environment,” said Pierre Lemire, CEO of Kent Imaging. “This collaboration highlights how real-time tissue oxygenation imaging can be embedded into existing workflows to support more informed, ethical and efficient care. By delivering objective data directly into the EHR, we’re enabling clinicians to justify treatments, document decisions accurately and ultimately improve patient outcomes.”
From Tanner Health’s perspective, the collaboration aligns with its commitment to innovation and its mission to leverage emerging technologies that improve care delivery.
“Partnering with Kent Imaging on SnapshotNIR illustrates our commitment to bringing advanced imaging technologies into everyday clinical practice,” said Steve West, managing director of Healthliant Ventures. “This pilot underscores our ability to deepen clinical workflows, help clinicians access better data, and ultimately deliver improved patient outcomes.”
The Broader Context: Why Imaging Matters
The healthcare industry is increasingly turning to advanced imaging tools to bridge the gap between subjective observation and objective data. While electronic health records have improved documentation and data sharing, they depend on the quality of the information entered. Tools like SnapshotNIR strengthen this ecosystem by providing hard data that can be seamlessly stored and tracked within the EHR.
For wound care in particular, the stakes are high. Chronic wounds, including diabetic ulcers and pressure sores, are notoriously difficult to treat and often require months of monitoring. By providing oxygenation data in real time, clinicians can avoid guesswork, adjust treatments earlier, and make referrals more confidently. This not only improves patient safety but also reduces costs associated with delayed healing and unnecessary procedures.
