Jukka ANTIKAINEN^*, Mikael von und zu FRAUNBERG¹, Joni ORAVA, Juha E. JAASKELAINEN¹, and Markku HAUTA-KASARI

School of Computing, University of Eastern Finland, P. O. Box 111, FI-80101 Joensuu, Finland
¹Department of Neurosurgery, Kuopio University Hospital, P. O. Box 1777, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland

(Received August 4, 2011; Accepted September 9, 2011)

It has been noticed that spectral information can be used for analyzing and separating different biological tissues. However, most of the studies for spectral image acquisitions are mainly done in vitro. Usually the main restrictions for in vivo measurements are the size or the weight of the spectral camera. If the camera weights too much, the surgery microscope cannot be stabilized. If the size of the camera is too big, it will disturb the surgeon or even risk the safety of the patient. The main goal of this study was to develop an independent spectral imaging device which can be used for collecting spectral information from the neurosurgeries without any previously described restrictions. Size of the imaging system is small enough not to disturb the surgeon during the surgery. The developed spectral imaging system is used for collecting a spectral database which can be used for the future imaging systems.

Key words: spectral imaging, neurosurgery, tissue separation

^*E-mail address: jukka.antikainen@uef.fi