The Saxion Nanotechnology research group participates in the Spectr@Phone project from the Academic Medical Center (AMC) of the University of Amsterdam.
Hand-held multi-functional multispectral imaging device
The aim of this project is to develop and test a low-cost hand-held multi-functional multispectral imaging device for medical and forensic applications. The AMC will exploit new possibilities offered by cell-phone camera techniques where integrated lens systems offer the possibility to combine optical imaging (current state of the art) with Spectral Imaging (SI) and local spectroscopy. For the Saxion Nanotechnology chair the project offers an opportunity to put more students into contact with the specific field of photonics/optics.
Optical spectroscopy is a commonly used technique for chemical analysis of unknown samples. In medicine the technique is routinely used to measure the composition of blood and tissue e.g. for oximetry, or in oncology to distinguish pathological from healthy tissue.
Spectral imaging (SI) provides both spectral and spatial information in one measurement and does not require contact between the object and the sensor. Besides digitally capturing the area of interest, SI provides information on the chemical composition at each position (pixel) in the image plane. Many potential applications of SI in medicine are currently under investigation among which applications in oncology (tumor identification and delineation), wound healing (e.g. age determination of bruises) and forensic crime scene investigation. Remarkably, all investigations show a high potential impact on the field of application, but still the technique did not progress into practice.
When looking at the commercially available SI systems, it is clear that this is mainly due to the high price (>50k€) of the systems, the large size and consequently weight of the camera, the long data acquisition times and the complex data processing software.
Saxion Nanotechnology: system integration
The Saxion Nanotechnology chair enters the project in the system integration phase, where the design of the demonstrator for each application will be made. For this purpose Saxion students of the bachelor course Industrial Product Development will perform an assignement at the participating companies in this project.
For this purpose Saxion students of the bachelor course Industrial Product Development will perform an assignement at the participating companies in this project.
Participants Spectra@Phone
Other participants in the Spectr@Phone project are: Delft Technical University, Forensic Technical Solutions BV (Amsterdam), Avantes BV (Apeldoorn), Anteryon BV (Eindhoven) and 4pico BV (St. Oedenrode).
This project starts in October 2012 and has an durations of 4 years.
Contact
For more information please contact Edip Can, e.can@saxion.nl