Critical Factors for In Vivo Measurements of Human Skin by Terahertz Attenuated Total Reflection Spectroscopy

Lixia Wang; Sayon Guilavogui; Henghui Yin; Yiping Wu; Xiaofei Zang; Jingya Xie; Li Ding; Lin Chen

doi:10.3390/s20154256

Sensors (Jul 2020)

Critical Factors for In Vivo Measurements of Human Skin by Terahertz Attenuated Total Reflection Spectroscopy

Lixia Wang,
Sayon Guilavogui,
Henghui Yin,
Yiping Wu,
Xiaofei Zang,
Jingya Xie,
Li Ding,
Lin Chen

Affiliations

Lixia Wang: Shanghai Key Lab of Modern Optical System, Terahertz Spectrum and Imaging Technology Cooperative Innovation Center, Terahertz Technology Innovation Research Institute, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China
Sayon Guilavogui: Shanghai Key Lab of Modern Optical System, Terahertz Spectrum and Imaging Technology Cooperative Innovation Center, Terahertz Technology Innovation Research Institute, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China
Henghui Yin: Shanghai Key Lab of Modern Optical System, Terahertz Spectrum and Imaging Technology Cooperative Innovation Center, Terahertz Technology Innovation Research Institute, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China
Yiping Wu: Shanghai Key Lab of Modern Optical System, Terahertz Spectrum and Imaging Technology Cooperative Innovation Center, Terahertz Technology Innovation Research Institute, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China
Xiaofei Zang: Shanghai Key Lab of Modern Optical System, Terahertz Spectrum and Imaging Technology Cooperative Innovation Center, Terahertz Technology Innovation Research Institute, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China
Jingya Xie: Shanghai Key Lab of Modern Optical System, Terahertz Spectrum and Imaging Technology Cooperative Innovation Center, Terahertz Technology Innovation Research Institute, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China
Li Ding: Shanghai Key Lab of Modern Optical System, Terahertz Spectrum and Imaging Technology Cooperative Innovation Center, Terahertz Technology Innovation Research Institute, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China
Lin Chen: Shanghai Key Lab of Modern Optical System, Terahertz Spectrum and Imaging Technology Cooperative Innovation Center, Terahertz Technology Innovation Research Institute, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/s20154256
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 20, no. 15
p. 4256

Abstract

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Attenuated total reflection (ATR) geometry is a suitable choice for in vivo measurements of human skin due to the deep penetration of the field into the sample and since it makes it easy to measure the reference spectrum. On the other hand, there are several critical factors that may affect the terahertz (THz) response in these kinds of experiments. Here, we analyse in detail the influence of the following factors: the contact positions between the thumb and the prism, the contact pressure, the contact duration, and the materials of the prism. Furthermore, we use the THz-ATR technology to evaluate different types of handcream and also establish the theoretical model to investigate the reflectivity after interacting with the skin. The results agree well with experimental ones. Our analysis makes it clear the importance of controlling the above factors during measurements to enable reliable THz response and results which, in turn, may be used to monitor water motion in human skin and to predict possible diseases.

Published in Sensors

ISSN: 1424-8220 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Technology: Chemical technology
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/sensors

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