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CATEA Develops a Innovative Method of early Bruise and Erythema Detection

A group of research scientists lead by Dr. Stephen Sprigle have developed a filter mosaic for camera lenses and microscopes that allows the user to see multiple wavelengths of visual to infrared light (a technology known as multi-spectral imaging) in one image exposure. This technique was specifically developed for early detection of bruising and erythema, however, multi-spectral imaging has many other applications including forensic science, classification of difficult targets in defense, produce sorting, food contamination detection, and early stage diagnosis of cancer and tumors.

Previous methods of multi-spectral imaging required multiple exposures or extensive-post processing of images. This method requires only a small modification of the camera lens, allowing for reduced cost and size.

This research was funded by a grant from the National Institute of Health (NIH).

diagram showing the mosaic layered on top of a layer of glass and CMOS. The different areas of the mosaic filter out different wavelengths of light.

Figure 1. A sample mosaic using four different filters to capture four wavelengths of visible and infrared light.

diagram showing the mosaic layered on top of a layer of glass and CMOS. The different areas of the mosaic filter out different wavelengths of light.

Figure 2. A section of prototype mosaic filter taken from CCD microscope. Subsequent improvements have reduced the spacing (gap, border) between individual filters further reducing the size.

Contact

Summer Ienuso
CCN Coordinator
ccn@coa.gatech.edu