Measuring Skin Hydration to Estimate Burn Depth and Degree

Presenter

Erin M. Newhall

Campus

UMass Amherst

Sponsor

Steven D. Brewer, Department of Biology, UMass Amherst

Schedule

Session 4, 2:30 PM - 3:15 PM [Schedule by Time][Poster Grid for Time/Location]

Location

Poster Board C1, Poster Showcase Room (163), Row 1 (C1-C10) [Poster Location Map]

Abstract

Approximately 500,000 Americans seek medical treatment for burns annually, but experienced clinicians correctly determine burn depth only 50 to 80% of the time. Most exclusively use clinical evaluation due to costs and difficulty of use of other methods proven to have greater accuracy. One of the most common effects of burns regardless of cause is the drying of the affected tissue. I have created a device that uses LEDs to emit two wavelengths of light, 910 nm and 970 nm, that are readily absorbed by water. Based on the remaining light scattered off of the collagen, I coded a method to estimate skin hydration. To explore the relationship between burn depth and skin hydration, I tested various skin models in four states: unburned, 1st degree, 2nd degree, and 3rd degree. My skin models included a gelatin agar mixture and pig skin. I burned these with a propane blowtorch to simulate various burn degrees. Alongside skin models, to ensure equity in this device’s conception, I measured the variability of hydration among many unburned people and various areas of the body. I also tested the device on unburned people with various skin types, stratifying by age and skin color, both of which introduce potential confounding factors, to measure variability of skin hydration. 

Keywords

burn depth, medical device, skin hydration, biophotonics, burns

Research Area

Disease Detection, Prevention & Treatment

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