Aging Bruises using Spectroscopy

Medical examiners often encounter questions about the duration of injuries based on the bruises encountered on a human body. Visual determination through photos or direct examination is usually used as a method to assess a time estimation on the skin hematomas.

Bruises

Image Credit: Aleksey Boyko/Shutterstock.com

However, the disadvantages of relying on visual inspections include the lighting of the room or where the photo was taken as well as the quality of the photograph.

Bruised areas on the human body usually undergo color development within a set period and studies have shown that a spectroscopy technique can be a useful technique to observe skin modifications, such as discoloration and texture.

Reflectance spectroscopy

Reflectance spectroscopy is commonly used as a diagnostic tool by giving insights regarding the structure of tissues through their absorption spectrum. Specifically, the hemoglobin concentration (Hb) of the tissue as well as the heme oxygenase system.

For instance, the oxygenated hemoglobin would reflect the color red when it absorbs the blue light as a result of when white light shines on the object. While the hemoglobin that is deoxygenated may give off a more pigmented blue light color after absorbing a red light with a higher level when the white light illuminates it.

This technique is advantageous for its ability to give measurements without touching the sample, hence minimum contamination and preservation of the sample are maintained. The reflectance spectroscopy system consists of a light source with a high enough brightness so that the background noise can be minimized by making the reflected signal much stronger.

Nonetheless, the light source power must not surpass the maximum power set by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) when performing the analysis in-vivo to avoid damaging the tissue studied.

The fiber optic probe component collects the signal that is reflected in the tissue from the light being excited. The geometry of the fiber probe controls the depth of tissue penetration. The signal detected is then split into each wavelength by the spectrometer and their intensities are detected by using a charge-coupled device as the detector.

Absorption and scattering on human skin

Light can either be transmitted, scattered, reflected, or absorbed after photons are propagated on the biological tissue, depending on the tissue's optical properties and its wavelength.

The photons can only be absorbed if their energy matches the energy of the molecules and the energy state of the molecule that absorbed this photon is then exited. While scattering is caused by the change in the refractive index that deflects the electromagnetic radiation or particles, where the size of the particle greatly impacts how the light is scattered.

These properties can be applied to the human skin, as the skin contains chromophores such as bilirubin, hemoglobin, and melanin that is responsible for the color appearance. The visual characteristics of the skin are caused by the properties of tissue scattering or absorption.

Color changes in bruised areas

Color changes occurring with time on the bruise areas are caused by the transport of hemoglobin into the dermis as well as the breakdown products. This color development can be monitored by reflectance spectroscopy.

Randeberg, et. al use the Fick's law of diffusion as well as Darcy's law to study these occurrences as a function of time from the experimental data obtained using the technique. The spectra are set to the wavelength range of 400 - 850 nm on the normal and bruised skin.

One of these hemoglobin breakdown products is bilirubin, which causes the color yellow on the bruised area. As discussed, the color of bilirubin absorbs at the wavelength of approximately 460 nm, where the complementary of this wavelength produces the yellow color.

Bohnert et al. uses a reflectance spectroscopy technique to examine post-mortem bruises and studied that recent and mild contusions usually generate the color red, while more severe bruises appear in the shade of blue.

Chemical signals released as a result of trauma send macrophages to the injured site, as they are responsible for breaking down the hemoglobin and the hemoglobin is catabolized through the heme oxygenase system.

Heme oxygenase breaks the heme closed ring structure so that biliverdin, the green pigment in human skin, can be formed. Nonetheless, biliverdin only exists in a short amount of time for its high reductase activity, and bilirubin is then gradually removed from the bruised area. After trauma, the chromophore hemosiderin appears in the color brown for a few months as a result of heme breakdown products.

Color Change on Bruise

Image Credit: Volodymyr Nikitenko/Shutterstock.com

Limitations of spectroscopy to study aging bruises

Reflectance spectroscopy utilizes the point-probe component that makes the reflected light intensity as well as the color measurement more convenient, however, the tool can only analyze a limited number of tissues. The limitation of this component makes the analysis time consuming as only a portion of the tissue sample can be diagnosed one at a time.

Furthermore, there needs to be more samples of bruises to be examined to validate the results of this diagnosis using reflectance spectroscopy. Once these limitations are overcome, reflectance spectroscopy can be a useful technique in more medical practices by providing a more accurate analysis of a larger tissue area.

References

  • Mao, S., Fu, F., Dong, X. and Wang, Z. (2011). Supplementary Pathway for Vitality of Wounds and Wound Age Estimation in Bruises Using the Electric Impedance Spectroscopy Technique. Journal of Forensic Sciences, [online] 56(4), pp.925-929.
  • Wallace, M., Wax, A., Roberts, D. and Graf, R. (2009). Reflectance Spectroscopy. Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Clinics of North America, [online] 19(2), pp.233-242. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2841958 [Accessed 17 August 2020].
  • Randeberg, L. (2020). Diagnostic Applications Of Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy. PhD. Norwegian University of Science and Technology. Available from: NTNU Open [Accessed 17 August 2020]
  • Randeberg, L., Haugen, O., Haaverstad, R. and Svaasand, L. (2006). A novel approach to age determination of traumatic injuries by reflectance spectroscopy. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, [online] 38(4), pp. 277-289.

Further Reading

Last Updated: Oct 1, 2020

Velda Iskandar

Written by

Velda Iskandar

Fascinated by how science can be applied to protect the safety of many, Velda Iskandar is currently in the route of fulfilling her lifelong purpose in becoming a Forensic Chemist. Iskandar attends the University of Central Florida, majoring in Forensic Science and minoring in Chemistry. She received a Model UN Excellence Scholarship for her college admission from the UNESCO Center for Peace based on her essay titled "Becoming a True Global Citizen” and her academic excellence.

Citations

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

  • APA

    Iskandar, Velda. (2020, October 01). Aging Bruises using Spectroscopy. AZoLifeSciences. Retrieved on October 10, 2024 from https://www.azolifesciences.com/article/Aging-Bruises-using-Spectroscopy.aspx.

  • MLA

    Iskandar, Velda. "Aging Bruises using Spectroscopy". AZoLifeSciences. 10 October 2024. <https://www.azolifesciences.com/article/Aging-Bruises-using-Spectroscopy.aspx>.

  • Chicago

    Iskandar, Velda. "Aging Bruises using Spectroscopy". AZoLifeSciences. https://www.azolifesciences.com/article/Aging-Bruises-using-Spectroscopy.aspx. (accessed October 10, 2024).

  • Harvard

    Iskandar, Velda. 2020. Aging Bruises using Spectroscopy. AZoLifeSciences, viewed 10 October 2024, https://www.azolifesciences.com/article/Aging-Bruises-using-Spectroscopy.aspx.

Comments

The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of AZoLifeSciences.
Post a new comment
Post

While we only use edited and approved content for Azthena answers, it may on occasions provide incorrect responses. Please confirm any data provided with the related suppliers or authors. We do not provide medical advice, if you search for medical information you must always consult a medical professional before acting on any information provided.

Your questions, but not your email details will be shared with OpenAI and retained for 30 days in accordance with their privacy principles.

Please do not ask questions that use sensitive or confidential information.

Read the full Terms & Conditions.