US Patent # 8,260,402

2.5 RRS Carotenoid Measurements in bones

• Ermakov IV, Ermakova MR, Bernstein PS, Chan GM, Gellermann W.  Resonance Raman based skin carotenoid measurements in newborns and infants. J Biophotonics. 2013 Oct;6(10):793-802. doi: 10.1002/jbio.201200195.  Epub 2012 Nov 29. PubMed PMID: 23193015; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4138409.
  

•   Carotenoid double and single bonds generate frequency-shifted sharp spectral lines in visible wavelength region
•   Height/intensity of C=C Raman peak proportional to skin carotenoid level
•   RRS method has high molecule specificity
•   Provides optical measure of all carotenoids absorbing at blue excitation wavelength; “composite score”
•   Tissue site: inner palm; relatively thick stratum corneum with low melanin levels across all ethnicities

•white LED excitation; 20 sec. finger RS measurement
•spectral recording of 400-700 nm region
•algorithm de-convolutes carotenoid, hemoglobin, melanin and tissue scattering levels
•interfaced with laptop computer

2.4 Skin RRS Carotenoid Measurements in Neonatal Medicine

 I. V. Ermakov, W. Gellermann, “NONINVASIVE MEASUREMENT OF CAROTENOIDS IN BIOLOGICAL TISSUE”, United States Patent

1.1. Full Spectrum Prototype Lab Reflectance Instrument

III. Autofluorescence

•white LED excitation; 20 sec. finger RS measurement
•two discrete detection channels at 490 nm (carotenoid absorption) and 610 nm (reference)
•algorithm calculates carotenoid levels; ignores hemoglobin and melanin chromophores
•Bluetooth communication with smart phone or tablet computer

Carotenoid antioxidants level, as measured with Raman spectroscopy, is higher in the bone tissue with brighter yellow coloration.

1.2.1. 2-wavelength version

Subject #2

• Gellermann W, McClane RW, Katz N, Bernstein PS, inventors. The University Of Utah, assignee. METHOD AND INSTRUMENT FOR NONINVASIVE MEASUREMENT OF CAROTENOID AND RELATED CHEMICAL SUBSTANCE IN BIOLOGICAL TISSUE. USA US6205354. 2001 March 20.
  

~10,000 instruments currently in use

2.3 Portable RRS Instrument: The “Biophotonic Scanner”

1.2.2.  Full-spectrum version

Our Research

• W. Gellermann, I. V. Ermakov, M. R. Ermakova, R. W. McClane, D-Y. Zhao, P. S. Bernstein “In Vivo Resonant Raman Measurement of Macular Carotenoid Pigments in the Young and the Aging Human Retina”, Journal of the Optical Society of America A 19, No 6, p. 1172-1186 (2002)
  

Subject #4

We specialize in bio-photonics technologies for non-invasive detection and imaging of bio-active phytonutrients, carotenoids in human skin and retina. Our optical instruments and processing algorithms can be used for quantitative measurements and screening application in clinical ophthalmology, epidemiology, dermatology, and public health.

2.1 Clinical Raman Instrument for Measuring Carotenoids in Human Macula

2.2 Clinical Raman Instrument for Measuring Carotenoids in Human Skin

3.1 Autofluorecense Based Imaging of the Macula Pigment of the Human Eye

Longevity Link Corporation

II. Resonance Raman Spectroscopy (RRS)

Examples of the macula pigment distributions

• I. V. Ermakov, R. W. McClane, W. Gellermann, P. S. Bernstein, “Resonant Raman Detection of Macular Pigment Levels in the Living human retina”, Opt. Letters 26,  No 4, p. 202-204 (2001)
  

OPTICS FOR HEALTH

I. Reflectance Spectroscopy (RS)

•white LED excitation; detection of diffusely reflected light with spectrograph
•skin contact lens squeezes blood from measured tissue volume
•palm, finger, or thumb as convenient tissue sites
•advantage: all skin chromophores visible with RS method and available for development of suitable algorithm
•further advantage: RS method yields carotenoid absorptions in optical density units, which scale linearly with concentration

• Ermakov IV, Ermakova MR, Rosenberg TD, Gellermann W. Optical detection of carotenoid antioxidants in human bone and surrounding tissue. J Biomed Opt. 2013 Nov;18(11):117006. doi: 10.1117/1.JBO.18.11.117006. PubMed PMID: 24213478.
  

• Ermakov IV, Ermakova MR, McClane RW, Gellermann W. Resonance Raman detection of carotenoid antioxidants in living human tissues. Opt Lett. 2001 Aug 1;26(15):1179-81. PubMed PMID: 18049555.
  

1.2. Development of Portable Reflection Spectroscopy Devices (“Veggie Meters”)

•  palm tissue site; relatively low melanin levels across ethnicities
•  wide inter-subject skin score differences
•  skin carotenoid sores increase with consumption of carotenoid containing dietary supplements

• I. V. Ermakov, W. Gellermann, “Dermal Carotenoid Measurements via Pressure Mediated Reflection Spectroscopy”,  J. Biophotonics, 5, No. 7, p. 559-570 (2012) / doi: 10.1002/jbio.201100122;