MoistureMap MM 100

• The Measuring Principle

  

  The device measures the penetration of the electromagnetic field. Conductive material will reflect the signal making the resulting pixel darker while non-conductive material will make the signal go farther inside and on a scale of 255 grey levels the resulting pixel will be lighter. Humidity is increasing conductivity and this means darker pixels. Dryness skin means lighter images. Rather than absolute moisture figures the MoistureMap indicates the distribution of hydration on a given skin surface. On the 1.8 x 1.28 mm silicon chip of the

  sensor, over 90,000 capacitors are located every 50 µm. The sensor is covered with a silicon oxide layer for protection. With a special image analysis software the image can be evaluated in different ways. Together with the worldwide known and established Corneometer® for quantitative assessment of the hydration level of the stratum corneum and the Tewameter® to measure exactly the transepidermal waterloss and assess the skin barrier function (both device made by Courage + Khazaka, Germany), you can create a complete "Water Measurement Center".

  

  

• Advantages of the MoistureMap

  • Perfect addition to the quantitative measurement, as it shows the distribution of the water on the skin surface
  • Easy to handle and quick
  • Live stream of the image
  • Captured image in standard jpg-file
  • Spring loaded sensor
  • Optionally the measurement can be triggered by a footswitch
  • In-vivo skin measurement and also in-vitro application can be performed.
  • Evenness of the hydration is displayed in 5 different colours and a histogram
  • In addition to looking at hydration, topographic measurements (profile, corner density, anisotropy index) give interesting aging parameters.
  • Calibration possibility for the user
  • All results are saved in an Excel®-file by one mouse click
  • Automatic saving of the images under a study name
  • Up to six images together with their complete results can be compared in one overview
  • The only instrument which can work side by side with the established Corneometer® and Tewameter®
  • New parameters for the software will be developed in the future

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

• Fields of Application

  Wherever skin moisture distribution plays a role the MoistureMap MM 100 is a very impressive imaging addition to the pure quantitative measurements. In literature the use of such equipment is known for efficacy testing of cosmetics & pharmaceuticals & surfactants, skin photo-aging and illustration of skin lesions and scars. Capacitance imaging has also been used to determine to map the hair moisture level.

   

  The device is not produced & sold directly by Courage + Khazaka but by Skin Surface Technology in Belgium. Please check out for information and contact www.skin-surface-technology.com.

   

  Due to the L'Oréal Patent on Skin Chip® (EP 1 438 922 B1), in some countries for some applications there might be conflicts of interest.

   

  A variety of articles on the measurement principle of the Skin Chip® (same as MoistureMap) has been published.

  

• Technical Data

  Device:

  Dimensions: 13 x 14.6 x 5 cm, Weight: approx. 1 kg, Power supply: external 100-240 VAC, 47-63 Hz, DC 12V/4A, Port: USB

   

  Probe:

  Dimensions: length: 16.6 cm, measurement head: 4.3 x 3 cm, Weight: approx. 90 g, Active measurement area: 18 x 12.8 mm, Sensor size: 256 x 360 pixel, Sensor resolution: 508 DPI 8Bit/pixel, Measurement principle: relative permitivity

   

  Technical changes may be made without prior notice.