Advancements in non-invasive hyperspectral imaging: Mapping blood oxygen levels and vascular health for clinical and research applications

Oxygen content is crucial for the functioning of human body organs, as it plays a vital role in cellular respiration, which generates energy necessary for life-sustaining functions. The absence of adequate oxygen leads to cellular dysfunction and eventual organismal death due to energy deprivation.

In this study, we designed a rapid, non-invasive, and non-contact custom hyperspectral imaging system to assess blood perfusion in arteries, capillaries, and veins across various human organs, including the arm, eye, and leg. The system recorded cube images consisting of multispectral image ranges, capturing spectral information in both the visible and infrared spectra. Segmentation of the visible spectrum (400 to 700 nm) and the infrared spectrum (700 to 1000 nm) facilitated the mapping of blood oxygen levels in the investigated samples.

The estimated oxygen levels were calculated using the custom hyperspectral imaging system and associated algorithm, with validation and calibration performed against the gold standard pulse oximeter. Our results demonstrate that the custom hyperspectral imaging system accurately mapped blood perfusion and oxygen levels in organs, showing strong agreement with pulse oximeter measurements.

This study underscores the utility of custom hyperspectral imaging in non-invasively assessing blood oxygenation and perfusion in human organs, offering a promising avenue for clinical diagnostics and monitoring of vascular health.