Overview of the poster presentation, “Estimation of spectral reflectance images from RGB skin images for use in the medical field”
© TOPPAN Digital Inc.

TOPPAN Digital and Juntendo University poster presents joint research on “Estimation of spectral reflectance images from RGB skin images for use in the medical field”

Tokyo – TOPPAN Digital Inc. (TOPPAN Digital), a TOPPAN Group company and wholly owned subsidiary of TOPPAN Holdings Inc., was awarded the Best Poster Award for its poster presentation on “Estimation of spectral reflectance1 images from RGB skin images for use in the medical field,” at the 9th Fall Meeting on Federation of Imaging Societies.

The Meeting featured research presentations on processes and materials used in printing technology, digital printing, and imaging technology. Poster presentations were held jointly by the Japanese Society of Printing Science and Technology, the Imaging Society of Japan, the Society of Photography and Imaging of Japan, and the Institute of Image Electronics Engineers of Japan.

The presentaion of the spectral reflectance estimation method researched by TOPPAN Digital and Juntendo University received high acclaim and was one of two entries, from a total of 19, to receive the Best Poster Award.

TOPPAN Digital and Juntendo University will give a joint lecture on this research during a seminar at the 51st Annual Meeting of the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine on November 29 at Tokyo Dome City.

Research background and overview of the poster presentation

The TOPPAN Group has been developing a proprietary Color Management System (CMS)2 as a quality control technology for printed materials. Expanding this CMS technology, the TOPPAN Group has established a technique that eliminates the need for conventional color charts. Using color images (RGB images) of a subject, its true colors are estimated based on the differences in reflectance intensity when light hits it (spectral reflectance characteristics), enabling high-precision color reproduction. With this technology, color tones can be easily adjusted by anyone, anywhere. Aiming to apply this technology in the field of medicine and healthcare, TOPPAN Digital and Juntendo University launched a joint research project in June 2021 titled, “Image/Video Digital Data Quality for AI Use.” The research seeks to verify the technology’s utility in efficient emergency triage and online consultations in the medical and healthcare field, where precise color reproduction in digital image/video data is especially important.

The poster presentation reported on the collection of basic data for reproducing colors of biological images (skin), as well as evaluation findings on the accuracy of biological image colors that were reproduced with such data and TOPPAN’s spectral reflectance estimation technology. A spectral image measurement device (capture device) for biological use was created, assuming that images will be taken in various lighting conditions in emergency medical settings. Spectral measurement data obtained by this capture device was used as training data for spectral reflectance measurement technology. This technology then color corrected camera images of the forearm of subjects taken in various locations of a hospital. This achieved color reproducibility equal to or higher than conventional color correction methods that utilize color charts. Leveraging digital techniques, TOPPAN’s spectral reflectance estimation technology will contribute to digital transformation in the medical field, including diagnostic AI and telemedicine.

Future

TOPPAN Digital will apply the technology presented at the conference to fields other than medicine and healthcare as well as offer various services to drive change in the TOPPAN Group’s business portfolio through digital transformation.

The advent of smartphones and other technologies has made color communication (transmission of color information) ever more important for conducting careful color examinations of products sold on e-commerce websites and for accurately displaying product information. Furthermore, digital technology use is becoming a pressing issue for reducing the substantial costs associated with infrastructure maintenance and inspection, enhancing efficiency in agriculture, and passing on expert skills in manufacturing. The reliability of digital data collected for the purpose of AI use is expected to become a critical factor in the future. By applying this technology to address such issues, TOPPAN aims to contribute to reliable communication and the resolution of social issues using AI technology.

About the 51st Annual Meeting of the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine

During a seminar at the 51st Annual Meeting of the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine, TOPPAN Digital and Juntendo University will be giving a lecture on the research that was recognized.

Dates:November 28 – 30, 2023
Venue: Tokyo Dome City
Organizer: Department of Emergency Medicine and Critical Care, Center Hospital of the National Center for Global Health and Medicine
Official website: https://site.convention.co.jp/jaam51/en/  
Registration: https://site.convention.co.jp/jaam51/online-registration/
* Participation requires advance registration and a fee.

Seminar details:
Title Digital Transformation of Emergency Medicine: Pursuing Color Image Information “Authenticity”

Date and time Wednesday, November 29, 12:40 p.m. – 1:40 p.m.
Venue Room 2, Tokyo Dome Hotel B1 Grand Ballroom TENKU (North)

Chair Dr. Ken Okamoto
Emergency AI Color Image Information Standardization Course, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University
Advanced Emergency Medical Center, Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Juntendo University Urayasu Hospital

Speakers

Dr. Yutaka Kondo
Emergency AI Color Image Information Standardization Course, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University
Advanced Emergency Medical Center, Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Juntendo University Urayasu Hospital

Mr. Yuki Miyoshi
Technology Strategy Center, TOPPAN Digital Inc.
Co-organized by TOPPAN Digital Inc. and Juntendo University

1 Spectral reflectance
Reflection of light at different wavelengths when light hits an object. Objects have respective wavelength ranges in which they reflect, absorb, and emit electromagnetic waves particularly strongly (visible light is electromagnetic radiation in a wavelength range that can be seen by the human eye).

2 Color Management System (CMS)
A technology for adjusting colors across different devices, such as displays, printers, and printed materials, to achieve a consistent display of colors.