Development of a Video Fluorescence System for Assessing Burn Depth.

Abstract : The ultimate objective of our research is to develop an integrated laser-based system for treating burn injury. The first phase of this development effort was funded under the present contract. The objective was to design, construct and optimize a diagnostic system suitable for clinical use in humans that accurately determines burn depth. The diagnostic system utilizes an exogenously administered fluorescent dye to label skin vasculature that is detected by a fluorescence imaging system. During the past year the design criteria for such a system were formulated, the components acquired and the system constructed. A series of experiments have been carried out in animals to test and optimize the system. We have demonstrated that the ratio of fluorescence intensity detected by the system at a burn site to that detected from normal skin, can be used to accurately determine the extent of burn injury. The burn diagnostic system is now ready for clinical deployment to gather further data and refine the system. Lasers, Burns, Diagnosis, Burn depth, Fluorescence, RAD II, Lab animals.