A Hyperspectral Imaging Tympanoscope as a Diagnostic Tool: System Development and a Pilot Study

Tayebe  Taghizade; Saeid  Farahani; Ali  Kouhi; Ali  Balooch; Alireza  Akbarzade-Baghban; Mohammad  Esmaili

doi:10.18502/avr.v35i1.20580

Tayebe Taghizade Department of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Saeid Farahani Department of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Ali Kouhi Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Amir A’lam Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Ali Balooch Noorimentajhiz Company, Science and Technology Park, Kashan, Iran
Alireza Akbarzade-Baghban Proteomics Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mohammad Esmaili Municipality Organization, Qom, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/avr.v35i1.20580

Keywords: Hyperspectral; tympanoscope; middle ear effusion; middle ear-mimicking phantom

Abstract

Background and Aim: Accurate diagnosis of Middle Ear Effusion (MEE) is a challenging task due to the lack of reliable diagnostic tools available to physicians and audiologists. This study aimed to develop a hyperspectral imaging tympanoscope for diagnosing MEE and evaluate its diagnostic ability.

Methods: The tympanoscope system was constructed using an ear endoscope, lens, camera, and near-infrared wavelengths. Its diagnostic ability was evaluated with a middle ear- mimicking phantom. Additionally, a pilot study was conducted on middle ear images from 10 children (five healthy and five with MEE).

Results: Phantom experiments revealed a Weber contrast difference of 0.16 and 0.49 between phantoms with and without fluid in visible otoscopy and hyperspectral tympanoscopy, respectively. As a result, in hyperspectral tympanoscopy, the contrast difference between fluid presence and absence was nearly tripled. Furthermore, in the pilot study, a significant difference was found in Weber contrast between healthy children and those with MEE (p<0.001), with higher contrast in the MEE group.

Conclusion: The hyperspectral imaging tympanoscope can quantitatively distinguish between the presence or absence of fluid in the middle ear. It has potential as a diagnostic and monitoring tool for MEE.