Inexpensive diffuse reflectance spectroscopy system for measuring changes in tissue optical properties

J Biomed Opt. 2014;19(10):105005. doi: 10.1117/1.JBO.19.10.105005.

Abstract

The measurement of changes in blood volume in tissue is important for monitoring the effects of a wide range of therapeutic interventions, from radiation therapy to skin-flap transplants. Many systems available for purchase are either expensive or difficult to use, limiting their utility in the clinical setting. A low-cost system, capable of measuring changes in tissue blood volume via diffuse reflectance spectroscopy is presented. The system consists of an integrating sphere coupled via optical fibers to a broadband light source and a spectrometer. Validation data are presented to illustrate the accuracy and reproducibility of the system. The validity and utility of this in vivo system were demonstrated in a skin blanching/reddening experiment using epinephrine and lidocaine, and in a study measuring the severity of radiation-induced erythema during radiation therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Epinephrine / pharmacology
  • Erythema / pathology
  • Humans
  • Lidocaine / pharmacology
  • Optical Imaging / methods*
  • Skin / chemistry*
  • Skin / drug effects
  • Spectrum Analysis / methods*

Substances

  • Lidocaine
  • Epinephrine