Spectrophotometric measurements of human tissues for the detection of subjacent blood vessels in an endonasal endoscopic surgical approach

Thin slices of human tissues are characterized concerning reflection and transmission in a wavelength range from 400 to 1700 nm. The results are primarily useful to find a wavelength for the detection of subjacent blood vessels during surgical procedures, especially neurological surgery. The measurements have been conducted using a customized measuring station, utilizing two halogen bulb lamps and two spectrometers. This paper focuses on creating a data base with the optical properties of artery, brain, bone, nasal mucosa, and nerve. The spectral distributions are compared among each other, similarities and differences are pointed out. Each tissue has got unique spectral characteristics, whereas typical absorption bands can be found in the overall tissues, especially hemoglobin and water absorption bands. The reflectivity maxima are typically located in the red or near‐infrared. All the transmission maxima are located between 1075 nm and 1100 nm. The measurements have been conducted at the Institute of Anatomy at the University of Leipzig. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)