Novel approach to assess the emissivity of the human skin

Francisco J. Sanchez-Marin; Sergio Calixto-Carrera; Carlos Villaseñor-Mora

doi:10.1117/1.3086612

1 March 2009 Novel approach to assess the emissivity of the human skin

Francisco J. Sanchez-Marin, Sergio Calixto-Carrera, Carlos Villaseñor-Mora

Author Affiliations +

Journal of Biomedical Optics, Vol. 14, Issue 2, 024006 (March 2009). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.3086612

Abstract

To study the radiation emitted by the human skin, the emissivity of its surface must be known. We present a new approach to measure the emissivity of the human skin. Our method is based on the calculation of the difference of two infrared images: one acquired before projecting a CO₂ laser beam on the surface of the skin and the other after such projection. The difference image contains the radiation reflected by the skin, which is used to calculate the emissivity, making use of Kirchhoff's law and the Helmholtz reciprocity relation. With our method, noncontact measurements are achieved, and the determination of the skin temperature is not needed, which has been an inconvenience for other methods. We show that it is possible to make determinations of the emissivity at specific wavelengths. Last, our results confirm that the human skin obeys Lambert's law of diffuse reflection and that it behaves almost like a blackbody at a wavelength of 10.6 μm.

©(2009) Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE)

Citation Download Citation

Francisco J. Sanchez-Marin, Sergio Calixto-Carrera, and Carlos Villaseñor-Mora "Novel approach to assess the emissivity of the human skin," Journal of Biomedical Optics 14(2), 024006 (1 March 2009). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.3086612

Published: 1 March 2009

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

JOURNAL ARTICLE
6 PAGES

DOWNLOAD PAPER SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

GET CITATION

CITATIONS

Cited by 67 scholarly publications and 1 patent.

Explore citations on Lens.org

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Get copyright permission Get copyright permission on Copyright Marketplace

KEYWORDS

Skin

Infrared cameras

Infrared radiation

Reflectivity

Temperature metrology

Infrared imaging

Black bodies

Show All Keywords

RELATED CONTENT

Infrared camera NUC and calibration: comparison of advanced methods
Proceedings of SPIE (June 05 2013)

Flame attenuation effects on surface temperature measurements using IR thermography
Proceedings of SPIE (May 11 2016)

Vantablack properties in commercial thermal infrared imaging systems
Proceedings of SPIE (May 14 2019)

Aerial measurements of convection cell elements in heated lakes
Proceedings of SPIE (March 17 2008)

Pixel wise real time advanced calibration method for thermal infrared...
Proceedings of SPIE (April 22 2010)

Multiple wavelength infrared cameras and their biomedical applications
Proceedings of SPIE (March 28 1995)

Subscribe to Digital Library

Receive Erratum Email Alert

Show All Keywords

Keywords/Phrases

Search In:

Publication Years