SkIN hydrAtion Evaluation With TeRAhertz Scanning

Medical imaging commonly involves the use of radiation, such as x-rays, that can give detailed images of internal structures of the body but can carry a small risk of tissue damage due to the radiation involved. As such, the number of x-rays and computed tomography (CT) scans that an individual can have has to be minimised. Methods have recently been developed that make use of electromagnetic radiation for imaging purposes at terahertz (THz) frequencies, the region of the spectrum between millimetre wavelengths and infrared. Terahertz spectroscopic imaging uses low power levels such that adverse effects on tissues are insignificant and is safe for in vivo imaging of humans \[1\]. The terahertz region is between the radio frequency region and the optical region generally associated with lasers. Both the IEEE RF safety standard and the ANSI Laser safety standard have limits into the terahertz region. The focus of this project is to investigate THz spectroscopic imaging as a new and powerful tool for analysing skin properties, termed "THz skinometry". The novelty in this project lies in tailoring the instrumentation and algorithms of THz scanning to accurately measure properties of human skin (e.g. hydration levels and skin thickness) in vivo. The customised non-contact and pressure-controlled contact THz probes developed will be able to do spectroscopic measurements of skin in vivo at the molecular level. This will be the first demonstration of in vivo THz imaging of skin globally and will facilitate quantitative characterisation of skin in a way that has hitherto not been possible and could lead to a step change in THz technology usage (similar to that currently used in airport security scanners).