Open AccessUse of a 3‐D imaging technique for non‐invasive monitoring of the depth of experimentally induced wounds
Author(s) -
Ferraq Y.,
Black D.,
Lagarde J. M.,
Schmitt A. M.,
Dahan S.,
Grolleau J. L,
Mordon S.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
skin research and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.521
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1600-0846
pISSN - 0909-752X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0846.2007.00243.x
Subject(s) - histology , ablation , stratum corneum , biomedical engineering , wound healing , dermis , ex vivo , materials science , laser , papillary dermis , fluence , in vivo , epidermis (zoology) , medicine , nuclear medicine , pathology , surgery , anatomy , optics , biology , physics , microbiology and biotechnology
Background/purpose: Experimental studies of wound healing lack methods for standardized wounding and in situ depth assessment. Consequently, in this pilot study, an Erbium (Er):YAG laser has been used for wound induction with a non‐invasive 3‐D imaging technique as an alternative to histology. Methods: Erbium:YAG ablation of human skin ex vivo was performed with total fluences of 10, 50 and 200 J/cm 2 , removing the stratum corneum, epidermis/papillary dermis and deeper dermis, respectively. Wound depth was measured with the 3‐D method and histologically. Results: Wound depth was proportional to fluence for both techniques : 3‐D, 17.7±1.7, 43.9±16 and 245.2±61 μm; histology, 14.6±1.7, 50.6±11.6 and 238±102 μm, respectively. Conclusions: The 3‐D technique compares well with and is an improvement on histological measurement, providing true wound depth measurement, avoiding shape changes inherent with histology. Furthermore, the Er:YAG laser is a highly appropriate means of wound induction due to its rapidity and precision.