Our USR-CliP [Unit for Standardized and Reproducible Clinical Photography] is a professional level photographic laboratory particularly developed for and dedicated to highly standardized and reproducible clinical photography. Heart of the system is a 31 mega-pixels medium format camera with a PC driven high-end professional flash system.

The Vivascope features Confocal Microscopy of the skin which provides scans of the skin of defined depths, it is an in-vivo non –invasive “optical biopsy” at cellular resolution. Applying confocal microscopy we can among others define the aging parameter papillae density and pigmentation. Despite that the method may be combined with other examinations such as determination of eye wrinkles or skin moisturization.

Raman spectroscopy is a very unique technique which enables us to measure molecular entities within the skin at different depth of the volunteers in-vivo but non-invasively. Within penetration studies the efficacy of topically applied products may be determined. Other than that many more parameter such as epidermal water content or NMF can be investigated.

The FLPI (Full Field Laser Perfusion Imager) is a device for measurement of blood flow in the upper skin levels. It is a non-contact measurement. Thus application in the face is possible even without eye protection. Among others the FLPI may be used for determination of Acne lesions, investigation of shaving irritation or documentation of efficacy of cooling and warming effects on skin.

The Visia CR is a computer based system used for standardized facial photography. It is equipped with a 6 MPixel camera (Fuji S2) and several flashes, all permanently installed in the Visia box. For lightning there are standard flashes, flashes with polarized light (parallel or cross-polarized) and UV-flashes for fluorescence images available. The device enables facial photography of high quality with standardized lightning at different time points.

The proDERM cellulite stand is a system particularly developped for computer based, standardized photography of celulite. The device is equipped with a 3 MPixel camera (Canon Eos D30) and a neon ring light used for illumination. The ring light is positioned at knee height of the subject. It produces shadow onto the skin appropriate for the cellulite level of the subject. Camera positioning is documented on two scales. The orientation in between camera and ring light remains fixed at all times. With that the device enables high quality images with steady illumination at different time points. Subject related pictures may be mixed applying a special software so that blinded evaluation is possible.

DermaTop is a device enabling fringe-projection profilometry with which the morphological structure of the skin surface can be determined. To investigate the skin topography (e.g. wrinkels, sagging, cellulite) multiple altitude curves are necessary. Therefore the surface is lit with a fringe projection and the reflexion will be taken by a CCD camera. The DermaTOP is equipped with a blue LED as light source. Blue light does not penetrate the skin deeply, and is well reflected from the surface. The improved contrast provides accurate data of the dermal surface topography.

The three-dimensional in vivo measurement system (PRIMOS; Phaseshift Rapid In vivo Measurement of Skin) enables the measurement of the morphological structure of the skin directly in vivo without replicas. The operation principle based on the protection of fringes on the skin surface and measuring its position on the skin surface to asses the topography.

Thermography, or thermal imaging is a type of infrared imaging. The thermographic camera detects radiation in the infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum (8 -12 µm) and produces images of that radiation (300 x 200 pixels at 1.25 Hz, temperature resolution ±0.03K at 30ºC). Infrared radiation is emitted by all objects based on their temperatures. The amount of radiation emitted by an object increases with temperature, therefore thermography allows one to see the temperature distribution image of the skin.

Thermographic results are given as the temperature (°C) per Pixel of the scanned area.