Using a portable terahertz spectrometer to measure the optical
properties of in vivo human skin

Ibtissam Echchgadda; Jessica E. Grundt; Melissa Tarango; Bennett L. Ibey; Thomas Tongue; Min Liang; Hao Xin; Gerald J. Wilmink

doi:10.1117/12.2004944

28 February 2013 Using a portable terahertz spectrometer to measure the optical properties of in vivo human skin

Ibtissam Echchgadda, Jessica E. Grundt, Melissa Tarango, Bennett L. Ibey, Thomas Tongue, Min Liang, Hao Xin, Gerald J. Wilmink

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 8585, Terahertz and Ultrashort Electromagnetic Pulses for Biomedical Applications; 85850J (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2004944
Event: SPIE BiOS, 2013, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

Terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) systems are capable of detecting small differences in water concentration levels in biological tissues. This feature makes THz devices excellent tools for the noninvasive assessment of skin; however, most conventional systems prove too cumbersome for limited-space environments. We previously demonstrated that a portable, compact THz spectrometer permitted measurement of porcine skin optical properties that were comparable to those collected with conventional systems. In order to move toward human use of this system, the goal for this study was to collect the optical properties, specifically the absorption coefficient (μ_a) and index of refraction (n), of human subjects in vivo. Spectra were collected from 0.1-2 THz, and measurements were made on the palm, ventral (inner) and dorsal (outer) forearm. Prior to each THz measurement, we used a multiprobe adapter system to measure each subject’s skin hydration levels, transepidermal waterloss (TEWL), skin color, and degree of melanin pigmentation. Our results suggest that the measured optical properties were wide-ranging, and varied considerably for skin tissues with different hydration and melanin levels. These data provide a novel framework for accurate human tissue measurements using THz spectrometers in limited-space environments.

Citation Download Citation

Ibtissam Echchgadda, Jessica E. Grundt, Melissa Tarango, Bennett L. Ibey, Thomas Tongue, Min Liang, Hao Xin, and Gerald J. Wilmink "Using a portable terahertz spectrometer to measure the optical properties of in vivo human skin", Proc. SPIE 8585, Terahertz and Ultrashort Electromagnetic Pulses for Biomedical Applications, 85850J (28 February 2013); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2004944

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KEYWORDS

Terahertz radiation

Skin

Tissues

Optical properties

Spectroscopy

Absorption

Refraction

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