Title :
Isoreflectance contours for medical imaging
Author :
Cheung, Kei-hoi ; Fox, Martin D.
Author_Institution :
Connecticut Univ., Storrs, CT, USA
Abstract :
With the use of microcomputer-based computer imaging hardware and software, it was found that the reflectance of an object could be stretched such that isoreflectance contours were generated, indicative of minute light-intensity variations. Such a reflectance imaging technique is noncontact and noninvasive. Isoreflectance contours are very sensitive to small displacements, with the detection limit being 160 mu m with the present hardware implementation. With the proper setting and orientation of an illuminating light source, tiny body pulse motions can be detected and observed in real time. The contours of equal reflectance can also provide biogeometrical information which can be used to quantitate formerly qualitative observations about body morphology, and in particular, bilateral symmetry of the human body.
Keywords :
light reflection; microcomputer applications; patient diagnosis; biogeometrical information; body morphology; human body bilateral symmetry; isoreflectance contours; medical imaging; microcomputer-based system; minute light-intensity variations; reflectance imaging technique; tiny body pulse motions; Aging; Biomedical imaging; Computed tomography; Hardware; Humans; Image analysis; Information analysis; Light sources; Reflectivity; Surface morphology; Diagnostic Imaging; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Lighting; Microcomputers;
Journal_Title :
Biomedical Engineering, IEEE Transactions on