Near-Infrared Spectral Imaging for Burn Depth Diagnosis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current diagnostic methods for burn depth, such as empirical diagnosis, tissue pathological biopsy, and existing spectral imaging techniques, are inadequate in accurately distinguishing necrotic tissue and providing precise information on burn skin necrosis depth and area, leading to incomplete treatment and potential complications.
Innovation Solution
A near-infrared spectrum imaging system with high resolution and wide field of view, utilizing a spectrum imager with a liquid crystal tunable filter or acousto-optic tunable filter, and a computer-controlled system for non-contact, non-invasive diagnosis, which processes spectral data to accurately determine burn skin necrosis depth and area by correlating spectral reflectance curves with pathological data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If empirical diagnosis methods are used, then the diagnostic process is simple and quick, but the accuracy of burn depth judgment is only about 70%, leading to incorrect treatment decisions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/empirical diagnostic method (visual inspection and tactile assessment) with a spectral imaging system that uses near-infrared light interaction with tissue to obtain quantitative spectral data. This substitution enables objective, accurate measurement of burn depth through spectral analysis, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and accuracy by using optical physics rather than subjective human assessment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the diagnostic parameter from macroscopic visual appearance to microscopic spectral reflectance characteristics in the near-infrared range (700-2500 nm). By analyzing how different tissue depths absorb and reflect specific wavelengths, the system achieves precise depth measurement, transforming the diagnostic approach from qualitative to quantitative parameter-based assessment.
2Measurement precision
If tissue pathological biopsy is used as the golden standard, then the diagnostic accuracy is high, but the operation is traumatic and requires long-term commitment from pathology experts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces spectral imaging as an intermediary diagnostic tool that bridges the gap between non-invasive assessment and pathological gold standard. By using near-infrared spectral characteristics as a mediator, the system provides accurate burn depth evaluation without requiring tissue removal, thus eliminating patient trauma while maintaining high diagnostic accuracy through objective spectral analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the invasive mechanical biopsy procedure with a non-contact optical spectral imaging system. This substitution eliminates the harmful trauma associated with tissue sampling while achieving comparable or superior diagnostic accuracy through physics-based spectral analysis of tissue optical properties.
3Measurement precision
If fluorescence detection technique is used, then the burn depth can be evaluated, but substances such as wound ointment and antiseptics have great impact on detection results
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the detection wavelength parameter from the fluorescence excitation range (typically visible light) to the near-infrared spectral range (700-2500 nm). This parameter change exploits the fact that many external substances have minimal absorption in the near-infrared region, allowing the system to penetrate through or around contaminants and accurately assess underlying tissue depth without being significantly affected by wound ointments or antiseptics.
4Measurement precision
If infrared thermal imaging technique is used, then the burn depth can be detected, but the detection conditions require constant ambient temperature and equilibrium time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the thermal imaging system that measures temperature distribution with a spectral imaging system that measures light reflectance in the near-infrared range. This substitution eliminates the need for thermal equilibrium and controlled ambient conditions, as optical spectral properties are immediately available and not influenced by transient thermal states or environmental temperature fluctuations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides accurate, micron-level information on the boundary between normal and necrotic tissue, enabling precise clinical treatment and reducing patient discomfort and diagnostic errors, thus improving burn wound management.
Implementation Method 1
a wide-spectrum liquid crystal tunable filter (LCTF) or an acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) that obtain spectral signals of 1100-2500 nm waveband
Implementation Method 2
a wide-spectrum liquid crystal tunable filter (LCTF) or an acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) that obtain spectral signals of 1100-2500 nm waveband
Implementation Method 3
obtain spectral signals of 1100-2500 nm waveband... performing image analysis and processing, that is, firstly spectrum correction is performed... spectral matching and recognition is performed... on a spectral reflectance curve
Data Source
AI summary
A near-infrared spectrum imaging system for diagnosis of the depth and the area of burn skin necrosis comprises a spectrum imager and a computer controlled system. The spectrum imaging system comprises a light source (101), an optical lens (102), a filter (103), a driving controller (105a, 105b, 104), and a CCD camera (106). The filter (103) uses a wide-spectrum liquid crystal tunable filter (LCTF) or an acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) that obtain 1100-2500 nm waveband spectral signals of burn skin necrosis tissue of a target region. A compute controlled system is internally provided with a universal module, a data module, a spectrum correction module, a spectrum matching module, and a burn wound three-dimensional synthesizing module. The spectrum imager obtains spectral image data of burn skin necrosis tissue of a target region and inputs the data into the computer controlled system, and the computer controlled system performs image analysis and processing of the data; the depth and the area of burn of the target region can be obtained by means of spectral matching and recognition on a spectral reflectance curve corresponding to each image pixel in an spectral image and a standard spectral reflectance curve in a burn skin necrosis spectral database in a data module, and the data is synthesized into a three-dimensional image for display.