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Characterization of burn injuries using terahertz time-domain spectroscopy

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

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

20 Scopus citations

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 3rd 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.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAdvanced Biomedical and Clinical Diagnostic Systems IX
DOIs
StatePublished - 2011
EventAdvanced Biomedical and Clinical Diagnostic Systems IX - San Francisco, CA, United States
Duration: Jan 23 2011Jan 25 2011

Publication series

NameProgress in Biomedical Optics and Imaging - Proceedings of SPIE
Volume7890
ISSN (Print)1605-7422

Conference

ConferenceAdvanced Biomedical and Clinical Diagnostic Systems IX
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Francisco, CA
Period01/23/1101/25/11

Keywords

  • 2 and 3 degree burns
  • Burn diagnosis
  • skin
  • terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS)

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