Evaluation of facial tissue characteristics by utilising vibration signals using thermal imaging

• Published in: IET science, measurement & technology measurement & technology, 2020-12, Vol.14 (10), p.997-1002
• Main Authors: Irim, Yakup, Carlak, Hamza Feza, Ak, Mehmet Ümit, Bilgin, Süleyman, Oral, Okan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: biological tissues; cheek regions; constant frequency vibration signals; diseases; dynamic analysis study; external vibration source; F region; face recognition; face region; facial area; facial tissue characteristics; heating response curve; infrared imaging; medical image processing; ML region; MR regions; nasal diseases; Research Article; soft tissue thickness; static analyses; temperature alteration; temperature changes; temperature difference; temperature distribution; thermal imaging techniques; vibrations
• ISSN: 1751-8822; 1751-8830
• DOI: 10.1049/iet-smt.2020.0232

Using the vibration signals, the facial tissue characteristics may be utilised for the detection of nasal diseases. In this study, the tissue characteristics were specified by applying constant frequency vibration signals to the facial tissue. The temperature changes caused by an external vibration source applied to the human face were investigated using thermal imaging techniques. Vibrations were applied to the forehead, right cheek, and left cheek regions of the facial tissue. Temperature differences were examined using dynamic and static analyses. Temperature increases of 500, 562, and 606 m°C were acquired in the F region, MR, and ML regions, respectively. While the F region has the lowest soft tissue thickness and temperature difference, the ML region has the highest values. The temperature difference between ML and F regions was acquired as 106 m°C. The temperature distributions of the facial area indicate that the change of the temperature is lower in the regions where the soft tissue thickness is low, and higher in the regions where the soft tissue thickness is high. Therefore, the thickness information about the soft tissue can be provided from the temperature distribution of the facial area after the application of the vibration signal.