Detection and analysis of the intestinal ischemia using visible and invisible hyperspectral imaging

Intestinal ischemia, or inadequate blood flow to the intestine, is caused by a variety of disorders and conditions. The quickness with which the problem is brought to medical attention for diagnosis and treatment has great effects on the outcome of ischemic injury. Recently, hyperspectral sensors have advanced and emerged as compact imaging tools that can be utilized in medical diagnostics. Hyperspectral imaging provides a powerful tool for noninvasive tissue analyses. In this paper, the hyperspectral camera, with visible and invisible wavelengths, has been evaluated for detection and analysis of intestinal ischemia during surgeries. This technique can help the surgeon to quickly find ischemic tissues. Two cameras, a visible-to-near-infrared camera (400-1000 nm) and an infrared camera (900-1700 nm) were used to capture the hyperspectral images. Vessels supplying an intestinal segment of a pig were clamped to simulate ischemic conditions. A key wavelength range that provides the best differentiation between normal and ischemic intestine was determined from all wavelengths that potentially reduces the amount of data collected in subsequent work. The data were classified using two filters that were designed to discriminate the ischemic intestinal regions.