Abstract
We propose a novel method and system that utilizes a popular smartphone to realize hyperspectral imaging for analyzing skin morphological features and monitoring hemodynamics. The imaging system works based on a built-in RGB camera and flashlight on the smartphone. We apply Wiener estimation to transform the acquired RGB-mode images into "pseudo"-hyperspectral images with 16 wavebands, covering a visible range from 470nm to 620nm. The processing method uses weighted subtractions between wavebands to extract absorption information caused by specific chromophores within skin tissue, mainly including hemoglobin and melanin. Based on the extracted absorption information of hemoglobin, we conduct real-time monitoring experiments in the skin to measure heart rate and to observe skin activities during a vascular occlusion event. Compared with expensive hyperspectral imaging systems, the smartphone-based system delivers similar results but with very-high imaging resolution. Besides, it is easy to operate, very cost-effective and has a wider customer base. The use of an unmodified smartphone to realize hyperspectral imaging promises a possibility to bring a hyperspectral analysis of skin out from laboratory and clinical wards to daily life, which may also impact on healthcare in low resource settings and rural areas.
Highlights
The application of hyperspectral imaging in cosmetology and dermatology is becoming increasingly popular and appealing to academic researchers and industrial entrepreneurs [1,2]
The results indicate that reconstructed hyperspectral images from RGB images match well with initial hyperspectral images
Using Wiener estimation strategy, RGB-mode skin images acquired by the smartphone camera were reconstructed/transformed into hyperspectral images with 16 wavebands, simulating as if they were captured by a 16-channel hyperspectral camera
Summary
The application of hyperspectral imaging in cosmetology and dermatology is becoming increasingly popular and appealing to academic researchers and industrial entrepreneurs [1,2]. A number of hyperspectral imaging systems have been recently developed for the analysis of skin features. One of such uses monochromatic lasers or optical filters (either filter wheels or tunable filters) to provide specific spectral illumination and uses a single array detector to sequentially capture the tissue reflection images [6,7,8,9]. Diebele et al tuned illumination wavelengths with liquid crystal filters for the clinical evaluation of melanomas and common nevi [11] In these devices, wavelength-selection procedure requires at least tens of milliseconds to complete, leading to asynchronous data acquisitions for different wavelengths. The need to select the wavelengths complicates the system setup, not a cost-effective solution for daily-use purposes
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