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05

2024

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12

Near-infrared spectroscopy technology combined with mechanical vibration detection aids in rapid mapping for biomechanics and subcutaneous diagnosis.

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In the field of modern medical diagnosis, the assessment of the biomechanical properties of the skin has always been an important and challenging topic. As the largest organ of the human body, the mechanical properties of the skin are closely related to the development and prognosis of various diseases. For example, skin cancer, one of the most common types of cancer globally, is often accompanied by fibrosis or hyperkeratosis, leading to significant changes in skin hardness. Studies have shown that the elastic modulus of common tumor tissues (such as melanoma or breast cancer) can be 2-10 times that of normal tissues. Similarly, diseases such as psoriasis, edema, keloids, scleroderma, and morphea can also cause rapid turnover of skin cells and changes in biomechanical properties. Therefore, the rapid and accurate assessment and monitoring of skin biomechanical properties are of great significance for the early diagnosis and treatment evaluation of these diseases.

However, the currently widely used assessment methods in clinical practice have significant limitations. Although ultrasound imaging and magnetic resonance elastography have high accuracy, they require specialized medical equipment and facilities, are costly, and are inconvenient for daily monitoring. Direct biological indentation, vacuum deformation, torsion, and tensile/compression measurements, while effective, often require biopsies, which are invasive and have poor patient experience. In addition, some diagnostic methods take hours or even weeks to yield results, failing to meet the needs for continuous monitoring. These limitations severely impact the early screening and timely intervention of skin diseases.
According to a report by Maims Consulting, a research team led by Bai Wubin at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has developed an innovative Active Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Patch (ANIRP) system to address these challenges. This system combines near-infrared spectroscopy technology with mechanical vibration detection to achieve rapid, non-invasive measurement of skin biomechanical properties. The related research results were published in the journal Science Advances under the title 'Near-infrared spectroscopy–enabled electromechanical systems for fast mapping of biomechanics and subcutaneous diagnosis'. The core components of the system include an eccentric rotating mass (ERM), an actuator array, and LED-photodiode sensors. The ERM actuator can generate controllable mechanical vibrations on the skin surface, while the near-infrared sensors assess the mechanical properties of local tissues by capturing these vibration signals. In terms of technical implementation, the ANIRP system demonstrates several unique advantages. First, the system uses a flexible printed circuit board design, ensuring good conformity with the skin. Second, by optimizing the design of the LED-photodiode sensors, the system can accurately capture vibration signals without the need for close contact, significantly improving wearing comfort. Additionally, the system achieves high spatial sensor density (approximately 1 cm²) and high spatial sensitivity (less than 1 mm), making precise localization and monitoring possible.The research team validated the system's performance through a series of experiments. Calibration was performed using PDMS artificial skin models with different ratios, confirming that the system can accurately distinguish between embedded objects of different hardness and depth. Depth detection experiments showed that the system can detect changes in subcutaneous tissue at depths of 2-9 mm, covering the typical locations of most skin tumors. In practical application tests, the system successfully achieved real-time monitoring of muscle contraction states and skin bending degrees, with a response time of less than 1 second.
It is particularly noteworthy that the ANIRP system has also made breakthroughs in addressing motion artifacts. By designing specialized digital filtering algorithms and enhancing light intensity, the system can effectively distinguish between target signals and interference signals. Safety tests indicate that under standard operating conditions, the heat generated by the system remains within a safe range, making it suitable for long-term wear monitoring.


This research not only achieves innovation at the technical level but, more importantly, provides a practical solution for the early screening and monitoring of skin diseases. The system's low cost and ease of operation make it promising for widespread application in clinical diagnosis and home health monitoring. In the future, with the improvement of sensor array density and algorithm optimization, this technology is expected to play a greater role in the early warning and precision medicine of skin lesions.

特别值得一提的是，ANIRP系统在解决运动伪影方面也取得了突破。通过设计专门的数字滤波算法和增强光强，系统能够有效区分目标信号和干扰信号。安全性测试表明，在标准操作条件下，系统产生的热量维持在安全范围内，适合长期佩戴监测。

这项研究不仅在技术层面实现了创新，更重要的是为皮肤疾病的早期筛查和监测提供了一种实用的解决方案。系统的低成本、易操作特性使其有望在临床诊断和家庭健康监测中得到广泛应用。未来，随着传感器阵列密度的提升和算法的优化，该技术有望在皮肤病变的早期预警和精准医疗方面发挥更大作用。

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