Mid-infrared (IR) – A hot topic: The potential for using mid-IR light for non-invasive early detection of skin cancer in vivo

DOI: 10.1002/pssb.201248524

Authors: Angela Seddon (University of Nottingham)
Co-authored by industrial partner: No

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: Physica Status Solidi (b) , VOL 250 (5) , PAGES 1020–-1027

State: Published (Approved)
Published: May 2013
Diamond Proposal Number(s): 7294 , 8230 , 8712

Abstract: After an introduction to the mid-infrared (IR) spectral region, the tremendous significance of mid-IR spectroscopic sensing is highlighted. The remarkable progress made towards mid-IR spectral in vitro mapping of tissue and cancer detection is reviewed, with emphasis on diagnosis of skin cancer. The status quo of chalcogenide glass mid-IR fibre optics and photonics for meeting opportunities for remote mid-IR sensing in general, and in in vivo cancer detection in particular, is assessed. Raman spectroscopy is a sister technique to mid-IR spectroscopy. The current success of Raman spectroscopy in medical diagnosis is appraised, with particular emphasis on Raman spectral imaging of tissue towards skin cancer diagnosis in vivo, based on a silica-glass fibreoptic sensor-head. The challenges to be met in chalcogenide glass science and technology towards facilitating analogous fibreoptic diagnostics based on mid-IR spectroscopy are addressed.

Journal Keywords: Skin Cancer; Mid-Infrared Spectroscopy; Fibreoptics

Subject Areas: Medicine, Physics, Technique Development


Instruments: B22-Multimode InfraRed imaging And Microspectroscopy