Terahertz probe for real time in vivo skin hydration evaluation

This study introduces a handheld terahertz (THz) scanner designed to quantitatively evaluate human skin hydration levels and thickness. This device, through the incorporation of force sensors, demonstrates enhanced repeatability and accuracy over traditional fixed THz systems. The scanner was evalua...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inAdvanced Photonics Nexus Vol. 3; no. 1; p. 016012
Main Authors Hernandez-Serrano, Arturo I., Ding, Xuefei, Young, Jacob, Costa, Goncalo, Dogra, Anubhav, Hardwicke, Joseph, Pickwell-MacPherson, Emma
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers 01.01.2024
Subjects
stratum corneum
terahertz
hydration
real time
noninvasive examination
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Summary:This study introduces a handheld terahertz (THz) scanner designed to quantitatively evaluate human skin hydration levels and thickness. This device, through the incorporation of force sensors, demonstrates enhanced repeatability and accuracy over traditional fixed THz systems. The scanner was evaluated in the largest THz skin study to date, assessing 314 volunteers, successfully differentiating between individuals with dry skin and hydrated skin using a numerical stratified skin model. The scanner measures and displays skin hydration dynamics within a quarter of a second, indicating its potential for real-time, noninvasive examinations, opening up opportunities for in vivo and ex vivo diagnosis during patient consultations. Furthermore, the portability and ease of use of our scanner enable its widespread application for in vivo and ex vivo diagnosis during patient consultations, potentially allowing in situ biopsy evaluation and elimination of histopathology processing wait times, thereby improving patient outcomes by facilitating simultaneous tumor diagnosis and removal.
ISSN:2791-1519
2791-1519
DOI:10.1117/1.APN.3.1.016012