Dainis Jakovels

2-D mapping of skin chromophores in the spectral range 500 - 700 nm.

The multi-spectral imaging technique has been used for distant mapping of in-vivo skin chromophores by analyzing spectral data at each reflected image pixel and constructing 2-D maps of the relative concentrations of oxy-/deoxy-haemoglobin and melanin. Instead of using a broad visible-NIR spectral range, this study focuses on narrowed spectral band 500-700 nm, speeding-up the signal processing procedure. Regression analysis confirmed that superposition of three Gaussians is optimal analytic approximation for the oxy-haemoglobin absorption tabular spectrum in this spectral band, while superposition of two Gaussians fits well for deoxy-haemoglobin absorption and exponential function - for melanin absorption. The proposed approach was clinically tested for three types of in-vivo skin provocations: ultraviolet irradiance, chemical reaction with vinegar essence and finger arterial occlusion. Spectral range 500-700 nm provided better sensitivity to oxy-haemoglobin changes and higher response stability to melanin than two reduced ranges 500-600 nm and 530-620 nm.

Real-Time Photoplethysmography Imaging System

Real-time non-contact photoplethysmography imaging (PPGI) system for high-resolution blood perfusion mapping in human skin has been proposed. The PPGI system comprises of LED lamp, webcam and computer with video processing software. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the reliability of the PPGI system when measuring blood perfusion. The validation study of PPGI and laser-Doppler perfusion imager (LDPI) was performed during local warming of palm skin. Results showed that the amplitude of PPGI increases immediately after warming and well correlated with the mean LDPI amplitude (R=0.92+-0.03, p<0.0001). We found that PPGI technique has good potential for non-contact monitoring of blood perfusion changes.

Noncontact monitoring of vascular lesion phototherapy efficiency by RGB multispectral imaging

Abstract. A prototype low-cost RGB imaging system consisting of a commercial RGB CMOS sensor, RGB light-emitting diode ring light illuminator, and a set of polarizers was designed and tested for mapping the skin erythema index, in order to monitor skin recovery after phototherapy of vascular lesions, such as hemangiomas and telangiectasias. The contrast of erythema index (CEI) was proposed as a parameter for quantitative characterization of vascular lesions. Skin recovery was characterized as a decrease of the CEI value relative to the value before the treatment. This approach was clinically validated by examining 31 vascular lesions before and after phototherapy.

Multi-spectral skin imaging by a consumer photo-camera

The possibilities to perform multi-band spectral imaging by means of a consumer color camera without external filters have been studied. Images at up to 6 spectral bands may be extracted from a single color image after appropriate signal processing. The proposed technique was tested in pilot measurements of in-vivo skin hemoglobin maps and laser-excited autofluorescence images.

RGB imaging system for mapping and monitoring of hemoglobin distribution in skin

A prototype R-G-B imaging system for mapping of skin hemoglobin distribution has been designed and tested. Device basically consists of a commercial RGB sensor (CMOS, max. frame rate 87 fps for VGA resolution), RGB LED ringlight illuminator and orthogonally orientated polarizers for reducing specular reflectance. The system was examined for monitoring of hemoglobin concentration changes during specific provocations - arterial/venous occlusions and heat test. Hemoglobin distribution maps of several skin malformations were obtained, as well.

Multi-spectral imaging analysis of pigmented and vascular skin lesions: results of a clinical trial

A clinical trial comprising 266 pigmented lesions and 49 vascular lesions has been performed in three Riga clinics by means of multi-spectral imaging analysis. The imaging system Nuance 2.4 (CRI) and self-developed software for mapping of the main skin chromophores were used. The obtained results confirm clinical potential of this technology for non-contact quantitative assessment of skin pathologies.

Influence of low power CW laser irradiation on skin hemoglobin changes

Influence of low power laser irradiance on healthy skin using diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and multispectral imaging was studied. Changes of diffuse reflectance spectra in spectral range from 500 to 600 nm were observed after 405 nm, 473 nm and 532 nm laser provocation, leading to conclusion that the content of skin hemoglobin has changed. Peaks in spectral absorbance (optical density) curves corresponded to well-known oxy-hemoglobin absorbance peaks at 542 and 577 nm.

Multi-spectral mapping of in-vivo skin hemoglobin and melanin

The multi-spectral imaging technique has been used for distant mapping of in-vivo skin chromophores by analyzing spectral data at each reflected image pixel and constructing 2-D maps of the relative concentrations of oxy-/deoxyhemoglobin and melanin. Instead of using a broad visible-NIR spectral range, this study focuses on narrowed spectral band 500-700 nm, so speeding-up the signal processing procedure. Regression analysis confirmed that superposition of three Gaussians is optimal analytic approximation for the oxy-hemoglobin absorption tabular spectrum in this spectral band, while superposition of two Gaussians fits well for deoxy-hemoglobin absorption and exponential function - for melanin absorption. The proposed approach was clinically tested for three types of in-vivo skin provocations - ultraviolet irradiance, chemical reaction with vinegar essence and finger arterial occlusion. Spectral range 500-700 nm provided better sensitivity to oxy-hemoglobin changes and higher response stability to melanin than two reduced ranges 500-600 nm and 530-620 nm.

Multispectral imaging of pigmented and vascular cutaneous malformations: the influence of laser treatment

The paper investigates influence and efficacy of laser therapy on pigmented and vascular cutaneous malformations by multispectral imaging technique. Parameter mapping of skin pigmented and vascular lesions and monitoring of the laser therapy efficacy are performed by multispectral imaging in wavelength range 450-700nm by scanning step - 10nm. Parameter maps of the oxyhemoglobin deoxyhemoglobin and melanin derived from the images are presented. Possibility of laser therapy efficacy monitoring by comparison of the parameter maps before and after laser treatment has been demonstrated. As both cutaneous pigmented and vascular malformations are commonly found lesions, the parameter mapping would be a valuable method to use routinely.

LASCA and PPG imaging for non-contact assessment of skin blood supply

Laser speckle contrast analysis (LASCA) offers a non-contact, full-field, and real-time mapping of capillary blood flow and can be considered as an alternative method to Laser Doppler perfusion imaging (LDPI). Photoplethysmography (PPG) is well known technique for assessment of skin blood pulsations that can be related to blood flow. In recent years several studies have been done on development of non-contact PPG imaging (PPGI). LASCA and PPGI techniques are simpler and cheaper compared with LDPI. LASCA technique has been implemented in several commercial instruments. However, these systems are still too expensive and bulky to be widely available. Several optical techniques have found new implementations as connection kits for mobile phones thus offering low cost screening device. In this work we demonstrate simple implementation of LASCA and PPG imaging technique for primary low-cost assessment of skin blood flow. Both devices comprise a widely available 1.3 mega pixel CMOS camera. Stabilized 650 nm laser diode module is used for LASCA illumination, and white LEDs are illuminators for PPG imaging device. An arterial occlusion test was performed to test LASCA and PPGI imaging devices. An example of scratch color image and corresponding blood flow map also was demonstrated. The results showed that both techniques can be used for fast monitoring and mapping of skin blood flow and implemented as connection kits for smartphone.