Evaluating the Performance of Hyperspectral Imaging Endoscopes: Mitigating Parameters Affecting Spectral Accuracy

Area of Science:

• Medical imaging
• Optical spectroscopy
• Biomedical engineering

Background:

• Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) offers rich data for medical applications, integrating cameras with endoscopes.
• No U.S. Food and Drug Administration-cleared HSI endoscopes exist, limiting clinical translation.
• Spectral measurement consistency across HSI systems and conditions is crucial for reliability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of eight parameters on spectral measurements using HSI.
• To assess the effectiveness of normalization in mitigating parameter-induced spectral variations.
• To propose practical considerations for optimizing HSI system performance for clinical applications.

Main Methods:

• Evaluated eight parameters: ambient light, exposure time, camera warm-up, averaging, focus, distance, and angles.
• Used interferometer-based spectral scanning and snapshot HSI techniques.
• Conducted controlled experiments to measure spectral accuracy and the effect of normalization.

Main Results:

• Several parameters significantly influenced spectral measurements, with varying impact.
• Normalization reduced variations for most parameters but was less effective for ambient light and camera warm-up.
• Normalization did not eliminate spectral noise from low exposure, small regions of interest, or non-uniform light sources.

Conclusions:

• Consistent spectral measurements are achievable with optimized HSI system parameters.
• Addressing parameter variability is essential for reliable clinical translation of HSI.
• Proposed practical considerations can minimize spectral variations, supporting HSI's medical adoption.