DermaVision

Bruise documentation plays an important role in both healthcare and forensic investigations, especially in cases involving domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, and physical trauma. However, current bruise assessment methods still rely heavily on visual inspection and standard photography, which are subjective and inconsistent.

According to national statistics, over 10 million domestic violence cases occur annually in the United States, and approximately 44.2% of victims are people of color. Existing bruise detection and aging methods are often less accurate on highly pigmented skin because melanin absorbs much of the visible light spectrum and can mask underlying chromophores such as hemoglobin.

As a result, bruises are often less visible or entirely missed, and documented inconsistently. This can negatively impact medical treatment, injury tracking, forensic documentation, and legal evidence collection.

Key Problem Areas

Problem Area	Current Limitation
Domestic violence cases	Over 10 million annually in the U.S.
Current bruise assessment	Relies heavily on subjective visual inspection
Highly pigmented skin	Bruises are often harder to detect visually
Existing bruise aging methods	Approximately 50% accurate
Standard photography	Captures only visible surface information
Clinical documentation	Inconsistent across providers and lighting conditions
Forensic evidence collection	Can lack objective imaging support

"Bruises can be difficult for forensic nurse examiners to detect, particularly on victims with darker skin tones. An inaccurate documentation of injuries can be detrimental to the victim's legal case against their attacker as well as to the victim's medical treatment." Danielle McLeod-Henning, National Institute of Justice

DermaSpect is a portable multispectral bruise quantification device designed to improve bruise visibility and documentation across diverse skin tones. Instead of relying only on visible light, the system uses multiple wavelengths of illumination, including UV-A and near-infrared (NIR), to capture subsurface information associated with bruise healing.

The system integrates specialized LEDs, a camera sensor, custom PCB electronics, and a handheld housing into a compact imaging device. By combining these components into a single platform, DermaSpect aims to provide more objective imaging compared to standard photography.

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How It Works

Bruises undergo biochemical changes during healing. Chromophores such as hemoglobin and bilirubin absorb and reflect light differently over time. By imaging across multiple wavelengths, DermaSpect aims to capture spectral information associated with these changes.

1. IlluminationUV-A, visible, or NIR LEDs illuminate the target skin region
2. Image CaptureCamera captures spectral response from the illuminated tissue
3. Spectral SeparationWavelength bands are isolated for analysis
4. Feature AnalysisSpectral and spatial differences are analyzed
5. Bruise VisualizationSubsurface bruise information becomes more visible
6. Future GoalSupport bruise aging and injury assessment

Key Chromophores

Chromophore	Role in Bruising	Spectral Relevance
Hemoglobin	Early bruise coloration	Strong visible/NIR absorption
Bilirubin	Later-stage bruise coloration	Indicates bruise progression
Melanin	Skin pigmentation	Can obscure bruises in visible light

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Design Criteria

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Validation & Acceptance Criteria

Parameter	Acceptance Goal	Validation Method
Durability	Withstand transport and field use	Vibration and drop testing
Optical Resolution	Stable optical performance	Modulation Transfer Function (ISO 12233)
Imaging Repeatability	Consistent image capture across trials	Repeated acquisitions
Filtration Safety	Maintain safe exposure levels	Irradiance and luminance measurements
Risk Classification	IEC 62471 Risk Group 0 or 1	Radiometer measurements
Portability	< 5 in × 4 in × 5 in	Caliper measurements
Weight	< 2 lbs without phone	Scale measurements

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Failure Mode & Effects Analysis (FMEA)

Failure Mode	Potential Effect	Mitigation Strategy
Device drop damage	Camera or PCB failure	Improved housing durability
Uneven LED illumination	Inconsistent imaging	Calibration and optical testing
Poor image acquisition	Motion blur or poor framing	User guidance and alignment controls
Phone grip spring fatigue	Phone slips during imaging	Stronger spring materials
Housing structural failure	Internal components exposed	Increased wall thickness
Excessive optical exposure	Safety concern	IEC 62471 testing

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Current Limitations

Limitation	Impact
Early-stage spectral database	Limited training and comparison data
Lower spectral resolution	Less detail than hyperspectral systems
Calibration requirements	Imaging consistency depends on setup
User alignment sensitivity	Small positioning changes affect images
Ambient lighting effects	External light may influence imaging
Mechanical tolerances	Some internal alignment still requires refinement

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Future Development Roadmap

Goal	Description
Prototype Integration	Refine mechanical assembly and internal alignment
Qualification Testing	Perform safety and validation testing
Spectral Validation	Validate imaging consistency and illumination output
Ergonomic Improvements	Improve housing comfort and usability
Optical Filter Integration	Complete multispectral imaging pathway
Symposium & Final Report	Present findings and device progress

The DermaVision algorithm pipeline is designed to analyze multispectral image data and identify spectral patterns associated with bruising. After image capture, preprocessing steps such as illumination correction and normalization are used to improve consistency between images. The system then extracts spectral and spatial features related to bruise appearance and chromophore changes during healing.

The long-term goal is to compare these spectral signatures against a bruise imaging database to support more objective bruise characterization and future time approximation. Future development may also incorporate machine learning approaches to improve classification accuracy across different skin tones and imaging conditions.

Algorithm Pipeline

Step	Process
1	Multispectral image acquisition
2	Image preprocessing and normalization
3	Spectral and spatial feature extraction
4	Pattern comparison and analysis
5	Future bruise classification and aging estimation

Current bruise documentation methods each have significant limitations related to portability, spectral capability, consistency, or cost.

Current Alternatives

Competitor	Technology	Strengths	Limitations
Nikon Z5	Standard Photography	High image quality, widely available	Visible light only; cannot detect subsurface bruising; poor on dark skin tones; no bruise identification and analysis
Crime-lite Auto	Multispectral Illumination	Alternative wavelength illumination	High cost; no bruise identification and analysis; large; requires forensic training
Hyperspectral Imaging Systems	Advanced spectral imaging	High spectral detail and resolution	Large, very expensive ($50K+), non-portable, lab-only; no bruise identification and analysis
Standard Clinical Photography	Basic visible-light documentation	Widely available, low cost	Highly dependent on lighting and user settings; inconsistent; no bruise identification and analysis
DermaSpect	Multispectral UV-A / Visible / NIR	Portable, multi-wavelength, skin-tone inclusive, bruise diagnostics and analysis	Moderate resolution

DermaSpect Competitive Advantages

DermaSpect Advantage	Why It Matters
Multispectral imaging (UV-A, Visible, NIR)	Captures information beyond visible light
Portable handheld design	Easier clinical and forensic deployment
Lower cost potential	More accessible than hyperspectral systems
Integrated illumination + imaging system	Consistent, self-contained imaging workflow
Validated across Fitzpatrick skin tone scale	Equitable performance across all patients
Quantitative bruise analysis	Supports objective, reproducible documentation

Market Opportunity

Target Customer Segments

Customer Group	Potential Use Case
Police Departments	Injury documentation for legal evidence
Trauma Centers	Acute injury monitoring and tracking
Hospitals & Emergency Departments	Clinical documentation and SANE programs
Dermatology Clinics	Skin imaging support and diagnostics
Research Labs	Spectral imaging studies and validation

Go-to-Market Approach

• Pilot partnerships with SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) programs and university hospital forensic nursing departments to validate clinical utility
• Conference presence at forensic nursing (IAFN) and clinical forensic medicine conferences to build professional credibility
• Grant and research funding through NIH and DOJ programs focused on domestic violence documentation and health equity
• Direct sales to hospital systems and law enforcement agencies once regulatory pathway is established

Business Model Canvas

Category	Description
Key Partners	Beckman Laser Institute, BioENGINE, King Lab (UC Irvine)
Key Activities	Prototype development, testing, clinical validation
Key Resources	Research funding, lab space, imaging equipment
Value Proposition	Objective bruise assessment across all skin tones
Customer Relationships	Software support and device customization
Channels	Direct partnerships, conference outreach, grants
Revenue Stream	One-time device purchase (~$6,000/unit)
Cost Structure	Premium imaging components and fabrication

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Faculty Mentor

Industry Mentors: DermaVision Technologies

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Stop by our booth to learn more about DermaVision Technologies and see a live demonstration of DermaSpect.