Why Multispectral Imaging In Medicine?

Masahiro Nishibori1, Norimichi Tsumura2, and Yoichi Miyake2

1Clinical Laboratory, Tokyo Medical and Dental University and 2Department of Information and Image Sciences, Chiba University

The Journal of Imaging Science and Technology March/April 2004, vol. 48, no. 2; p. 125-129; ISBN / ISSN: 1062-3701

Abstract
Multispectral imaging will certainly provide an excellent solution to color problems in medicine, and may have significant im-pacts in many aspects of medicine, so that the realization of individual improvement forms a complicated network. Specific reports on the concrete medical problems that will be solved by a specific multispectral technology will therefore be indispens-able. It is also important to understand some specific principles are appropriate from a marketing viewpoint for the chaotic medical field. Based on these considerations, two promising medical applications of multispectral imaging are proposed; digital images with spectral reflectance for each pixel, and digital images that are very accurate reproductions of real objects. The first technology will lead to new morphological diagnostic methods more powerful than human visual perception alone, and possibly even to the discovery of the mechanism of human color recognition, while the second advance will lead to a major improvement in the diagnostic reliability of digital color images and wider medical adoption of digital technology. The former will require considerable investment but will provide significant improvements in diagnostic ability, particularly for rare diseases, while the latter will provide practical and general improvements in medicine at relatively low cost.


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