title: Automatic characterization and segmentation of human skin using three-dimensional optical coherence tomography.
abstract: A set of fully automated algorithms that is specialized for analyzing a three-dimensional optical coherence tomography (OCT) volume of human skin is reported. The algorithm set first determines the skin surface of the OCT volume, and a depth-oriented algorithm provides the mean epidermal thickness, distribution map of the epidermis, and a segmented volume of the epidermis. Subsequently, an en face shadowgram is produced by an algorithm to visualize the infundibula in the skin with high contrast. The population and occupation ratio of the infundibula are provided by a histogram-based thresholding algorithm and a distance mapping algorithm. En face OCT slices at constant depths from the sample surface are extracted, and the histogram-based thresholding algorithm is again applied to these slices, yielding a three-dimensional segmented volume of the infundibula. The dermal attenuation coefficient is also calculated from the OCT volume in order to evaluate the skin texture. The algorithm set examines swept-source OCT volumes of the skins of several volunteers, and the results show the high stability, portability and reproducibility of the algorithm.
authors.forename: Yasuaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hori
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yasuno
authors.forename: Shingo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sugawara
authors.forename: Violeta
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Madjarova
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamanari
authors.forename: Shuichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Makita
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yasui
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Araki
authors.forename: Masahide
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Itoh
authors.forename: Toyohiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yatagai