Use of Hyperspectral/Multispectral Imaging in Gastroenterology
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Journal of Clinical Medicine Review Use of Hyperspectral/Multispectral Imaging in Gastroenterology. Shedding Some–Different–Light into the Dark Samuel Ortega 1,* , Himar Fabelo 1 , Dimitris K. Iakovidis 2, Anastasios Koulaouzidis 3 and Gustavo M. Callico 1 1 Institute for Applied Microelectronics (IUMA), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 35017, Spain; [email protected] (H.F.); [email protected] (G.M.C.) 2 Dept. of Computer Science and Biomedical Informatics, University of Thessaly, 35131 Lamia, Greece; [email protected] 3 Endoscopy Unit, The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SA, UK; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +34-928-451-220 Received: 26 November 2018; Accepted: 26 December 2018; Published: 1 January 2019 Abstract: Hyperspectral/Multispectral imaging (HSI/MSI) technologies are able to sample from tens to hundreds of spectral channels within the electromagnetic spectrum, exceeding the capabilities of human vision. These spectral techniques are based on the principle that every material has a different response (reflection and absorption) to different wavelengths. Thereby, this technology facilitates the discrimination between different materials. HSI has demonstrated good discrimination capabilities for materials in fields, for instance, remote sensing, pollution monitoring, field surveillance, food quality, agriculture, astronomy, geological mapping, and currently, also in medicine. HSI technology allows tissue observation beyond the limitations of the human eye. Moreover, many researchers are using HSI as a new diagnosis tool to analyze optical properties of tissue. Recently, HSI has shown good performance in identifying human diseases in a non-invasive manner. In this paper, we show the potential use of these technologies in the medical domain, with emphasis in the current advances in gastroenterology. The main aim of this review is to provide an overview of contemporary concepts regarding HSI technology together with state-of-art systems and applications in gastroenterology. Finally, we discuss the current limitations and upcoming trends of HSI in gastroenterology. Keywords: hyperspectral imaging; multispectral imaging; clinical diagnosis; biomedical optical imaging; gastroenterology; medical diagnostic imaging 1. Introduction Hyperspectral/Multispectral (HS/MS) imaging (HSI/MSI), also known as Imaging Spectroscopy, is a technology capable of overcoming the imaging limitations of the human vision based in white light (WL). In fact, HSI combines the features provided by two technologies that have been, for decades now, used separately i.e., digital imaging and spectroscopy. Digital imaging allows recording of the morphological features of a given scene, extracting information of different objects in regards to shape and textures. Spectroscopy deals with the interaction between the electromagnetic (EM) radiation and matter. While the capabilities of the human vision are restricted to a certain region of the EM spectrum (EMS), the visible spectrum that spans from 400 to 700 nm, most common HS commercial systems expand this spectral range from 400 to 2500 nm. Although there are HS cameras able to cover the EM up to 12 microns, such systems are restricted to certain applications that are out of the scope of this manuscript. HSI provides information in regions of the EMS that the human eye cannot see, revealing therefore substance properties that are normally unavailable to human beings. Furthermore, while the J. Clin. Med. 2019, 8, 36; doi:10.3390/jcm8010036 www.mdpi.com/journal/jcm J. Clin. Med. 2019, 8, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 21 J.applications Clin. Med. 2019 that, 8, 36 are out of the scope of this manuscript. HSI provides information in regions of2 ofthe 21 EMS that the human eye cannot see, revealing therefore substance properties that are normally unavailable to human beings. Furthermore, while the human eye is only capable of distinguishing humanthree different eye is only wavelengths capable of associated distinguishing with threethe opsi differentns of the wavelengths retina (Cianopsin associated sensitive with the to opsins 430 nm of the-blue retina light-; (Cianopsin Cloropsin sensitive to 430530 nm -bluegreen light light-;-; Cloropsin and, Eritropsin sensitive sensitive to 530 to nm 650 -green nm light-red light-; and,-), EritropsinHS cameras sensitive can capture to 650 the nm EMS -red in light hundreds-), HS cameras of different can capture narrow the wavelengths, EMS in hundreds largely of increasing different narrowthe resolution wavelengths, to over largelywhat humans increasing can see. the resolutionOn the other to overhand, what MSI humansis based canon the see. same On theprinciple other hand,of HSI MSI with is basedthe main on thedifference same principle being that of HSI MSI with is generally the main differencecharacterized being by that a lower MSI isnumber generally of characterizedspectral channels by a [1]. lower number of spectral channels [1]. An HS image is recorded in a datadata structurestructure calledcalled HS cube,cube, which contains both spatial and spectral information from a given image. The inform informationation inside the HS cube can be visualized in several different ways. If If a a single pixel from an HS image is selected, the spectrum related to this pixel can be examined. Likewise, it is possible to visualize the entire spatial information for a given wavelength. The observed information at various wa wavelengthsvelengths represents diffe differentrent properties of the matter. Figure1 1 shows shows anan HSHS cube,cube, where where both both types types of of representations representations can can be be observed. observed. Figure 1. Example ofof anan HSHS cube cube from from in-vivo in-vivo human human brain brain surface surface and and spectrum spectrum from from the the pixel pixel in red in (redleft ().left Several). Several images images at different at different wavelengths wavelengths obtained obtained from from the HSthe datacubeHS datacube (right (right). ). The spectral signature (also called spectral fingerprint)fingerprint) is the curve that links the EM radiation with a certaincertain material.material. The key point of this concept is that each material has its own interaction with the EMS, hence the spectral signature of any givengiven material is unique. By analyzing the spectral signatures contained in an HS image, it is possiblepossible toto distinguishdistinguish between the different substancessubstances that are are present present in in the the captured captured image. image. Nevertheless, Nevertheless, to toproperly properly differentiate differentiate materials materials by using by using the thespectral spectral signature signature information, information, some some issues issues have have to to be be addressed. addressed. First, First, the the measured spectral signature from the same material can present subtle variations, i.e., inter-sample variability. variability. Second, there are materialsmaterials thatthat presentpresent spectralspectral similaritiessimilarities amongamong them,them, beingbeing extremelyextremely challengingchallenging to perform an automatic differentiation ofof suchsuch materialsmaterials basedbased onlyonly onon theirtheir spectralspectral signatures.signatures. Many researchers have employed HSI technology for different applications [1] [1] such as non-invasive foodfood quality quality inspection inspection [2,3 ],[2,3], improving improving recycling recycling processes processes [4], or examining[4], or examining paintings forpaintings accurate for identification accurate identification of the pigments of the used pigments in order used to refine in order their to restoration refine their [5,6 restoration]. Geologists [5,6]. use HSIGeologists to identify use HSI the locationto identify of differentthe location minerals of different [7]. Furthermore, minerals [7]. in Furthermore, agriculture this in agriculture technology this has beentechnology used to has quantitatively been used to characterize quantitatively the characterize soil [8] or to identifythe soil [8] the or stress to identify levels of the plants stress [9 levels]. of plantsFigure [9]. 2 presents an example of the spectral signatures of different tissues [ 10], where the differencesFigure between2 presents the spectralan example signatures of the of spectral primary signatures (glioblastoma of different and oligodendroglioma tissues [10], where grade the III) anddifferences secondary between brain tumorsthe spectral (metastatic signatures lung, of renal primary and breast)(glioblastoma are evident. and oligodendroglioma Just a visual inspection grade of the shape of the reflectance curve reveals that it is possible to identify the type of tissue present at each J. Clin. Med. 2019, 8, x FOR PEER REVIEW 3 of 21 J. Clin. Med. 2019, 8, 36 3 of 21 III) and secondary brain tumors (metastatic lung, renal and breast) are evident. Just a visual inspection of the shape of the reflectance curve reveals that it is possible to identify the type of tissue pixelpresent of theat image.each pixel The measuredof the image. spectral The signatures measured are spectral mainly affectedsignatures by illumination,are mainly theaffected mixture by ofillumination, different substances, the mixture and/or of differ byent noise. substances, and/or by noise. FigureFigure 2.2. SpectralSpectral signaturessignatures ofof differentdifferent brainbrain tumortumor tissuestissues