Characterization of burn injuries using terahertz time-domain spectroscopy

M. Hassan Arbab; Trevor C. Dickey; Dale P. Winebrenner; Antao Chen; Pierre D. Mourad

doi:10.1117/12.876229

21 February 2011 Characterization of burn injuries using terahertz time-domain spectroscopy

M. Hassan Arbab, Trevor C. Dickey, Dale P. Winebrenner, Antao Chen, Pierre D. Mourad

Proceedings Volume 7890, Advanced Biomedical and Clinical Diagnostic Systems IX; 78900Q (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.876229
Event: SPIE BiOS, 2011, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

The accuracy rates of the clinical assessment techniques used in grading burn injuries remain significantly low for partial thickness burns. In this paper, we present experimental results from terahertz characterization of 2^nd and 3^rd degree burn wounds induced on a rat model. Reflection measurements were obtained from the surface of both burned and normal skin using pulsed terahertz spectroscopy. Signal processing techniques are described for interpretation of the acquired terahertz waveform and differentiation of burn wounds. Furthermore, the progression of burn injuries is shown by comparison between acute characterization and 72-hours survival studies. While the water content of healthy and desiccated skin has been considered as a source of terahertz signal contrast, it is demonstrated that other biological effects such as formation of post-burn interstitial edema as well as the density of the discrete scattering structures in the skin (such as hair follicles, sweat glands, etc.) play a significant role in the terahertz response of the burn wounds.

Citation Download Citation

M. Hassan Arbab, Trevor C. Dickey, Dale P. Winebrenner, Antao Chen, and Pierre D. Mourad "Characterization of burn injuries using terahertz time-domain spectroscopy", Proc. SPIE 7890, Advanced Biomedical and Clinical Diagnostic Systems IX, 78900Q (21 February 2011); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.876229

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