• Journal of the Korean Society of Visualization
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.74-81
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• 2024

Accurate tissue temperature monitoring during clinical procedures, such as laser therapy or surgery, is crucial for ensuring patient safety and treatment efficacy. Noninvasive techniques are essential to prevent tissue disturbance while providing real-time temperature data. However, current methods often struggle to accurately measure temperature at various depths within the skin, which is essential to avoid damage to surrounding healthy tissues due to excessive heat. In response to this challenge, we developed a confocal imaging system that utilizes the laser speckle imaging (LSI) technique for precise depthwise temperature monitoring. LSI uses laser light scattering to capture subtle changes in speckle patterns on the skin's surface due to temperature fluctuations within the tissue. By analyzing these changes, LSI enables accurate depth-resolved temperature measurements. This technique enhances the precision and safety of medical procedures, offering significant potential for broader clinical applications, improved patient outcomes, and better thermal management during interventions.