Dear-infrared photo-excited emission from tissues treated at different temperature levels

Background and Objective: There is a lack of methods to evaluate the extent of thermal treatment of biological tissue. The intensity of the near-infra red (NIR) emission photo-excitation was investigated from tissue undergoing different levels of heat treatment. Study Design/Materials and Methods: Chicken muscle was heated in an oven at different temperature levels ranging from 40 degreesC until burn-off. The spectral emission intensity from these heat-treated tissues was measured wi th a CCD camera and the intensity was calculated. Results: The emission intensity increased proportionally with respect to th e extent of treatment temperature until burning. Linear relationships betwe en treatment temperature and the emission intensity from tissue samples wer e found in three temperature ranges: from 40 to 160 degreesC, from 165 to 2 20 degreesC, and from 225 to 250 degreesC. Conclusion: The change in tissue damage after heat treatment could be detec ted by measuring the NIR emission intensity from the thermally damaged tiss ues. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.