Abstract

We propose a new method of burn depth estimation based on the measurement of photoacoustic signal from the skin, where the acoustic waves originated from the light absorption by blood are detected with a piezoelectric transducer put on the skin surface. Because vascular occlusion takes place in the thermally-damaged tissue layer, the propagating time of the blood-originated signals would have the depth information of injury. To investigate the validity of the proposed diagnosis, experiment using rat burn model was performed. The results showed that deep burn (DB), deep dermal burn (DDB), and control (healthy skin) can be well differentiated by the photoacoustic signals. Quantitative information relating to the depth of injury can be also obtained from the signals.

© 2001 OSA/SPIE