Astron Clinica’s latest product, COSMETRICS+, allows formulators to test and accurately quantify the effect of a product by extracting data from live skin. It presents the perfect solution to the challenge faced by manufacturers in the skin treatment/product markets, whose consumers increasingly demand proof on product claims.

COSMETRICS+ is the only single system currently available that can visualise and accurately measure living haemoglobin, melanin and collagen up to 2mm under the surface of the skin – in vivo. It is powered by SIAscopy, Astron Clinica’s unique patented skin visualisation and measurement technology which gives an accurate, clinically proven* view of the structure of the skin.

COSMETRICS+ effectively channels the power of SIAscopy into the clinical trial, product testing and validation processes, radically shrinking the work and costs involved in proving the effects of products that interact with the skin and affect haemoglobin, melanin and collagen.

Data for COSMETRICS+ is gathered using the SIAscope V, a clinically proven* handheld skin scanner that has been in use by the medical profession for years to assist in the diagnosis of skin cancer.

COSMETRICS+ captures discrete SIAscan images of each component at every scan. Each SIAscan captures data about the skin’s chromophores: haemoglobin, melanin and collagen.

COSMETRICS+ quantifies temporal changes between SIAscans capturing an exact image of the skin’s appearance, and measuring the effect a product has on the skin over time.

COSMETRICS+ includes a flexible range of tools to help manage a trial from start to finish.

Analysis of SIAscan data captured in COSMETRICS+ is achieved using comparative analysis, allowing selection from an individual, sub-set, group, or whole trial.

Statistical analysis and graphing are included, as is the facility to export selected data from a trial in a platform-independent form, for additional analysis using other tools. Individual SIAscan images can also be exported for use in promotional materials.

Capture SIAscans

Export measurements

COSMETRICS™ modular design means
that bespoke modules can be added and Astron Clinica’s software team is pleased to quote for their development.

Generate statistics

COSMETRICS+ Features

• Measures haemoglobin, melanin and collagen in vivo
• Allows easy setup of common participant parameters
• Allows the user to build trial groups from a volunteer database
• Can assign groups randomly to assist blinding procedures
• Sets desired sample frequency, including a sample tolerance window if needed
• Defines extra data fields to capture additional data during the trial
• Accurately records each volunteer visit where SIAscans are used
• Allows definition of a target region of interest such as age spots in each SIAscan
• Stores data for future analysis
• Provides secure access to the trial data, to ensure integrity and security
• Provides analysis modules for haemoglobin, melanin and collagen
• Can analyse data from a selected range of participants
• Can export statistical data, for further analysis
• Facilitates import of participant information from previous studies into a relevant trial
• Can export preview SIAscans for use in promotional materials

COSMETRICS+ Benefits

• Reduces the need for biopsy in clinical trials
• Provides proof for product claims
• Removes reliance on subjective methods of analysis
• Automatically generates statistics
• Provides clinical evidence for archiving
• Assists cosmetic formulators to fine-tune products earlier in the product life cycle
• “Powered by SIAscopy”, which has a proven* clinical pedigree
• Provides quantifiable data*

* Clinical papers available at http://www.astronclinica.com that can be scientifically validated

SIAscopy understands the way that light interacts with the skin;
the manner in which it scatters or bounces, the amount absorbed
by cells and other structures, along with the different changes in
wavelength or colour.

By understanding these interactions and comparing the light
sent into skin with light that comes back out, SIAscopy is able
to determine the nature and position of many of the different
components of the skin. SIAscopy measures key chromophores
within the skin, in particular haemoglobin, melanin and collagen.
SIAscopy is also able to determine whether melanin is in the top
layer of the skin, or whether it has moved lower down into the
papillary dermis (dermal melanin).

Optical model of skin

COSMETRICS+ Uses the SIAscope V. When the scanner
illuminates the skin, some of the light is reflected and
scattered from the surface. The remainder is transmitted
into the top layers of the skin. Varying fractions of the
incoming light are then firstly absorbed by the melanin
in the epidermis before entering the dermis, where they
are absorbed by the haemoglobin in the blood vessels.
Scattering also occurs in the dermis when the light interacts
with the collagen, resulting in a portion of the light being
remitted back to the surface.

By interpreting the combination of wavelengths that are
received back by the SIAscope V, SIAscopy is then able
to produce SIAscans; these are generated by referring
to its proprietary mathematical model of skin optics.
COSMETRICS+ is then able to present the user with the
generated SIAscans and statistics for interpretation.

COSMETRICS+ product package contains:

• SIAscope IV handheld scanner
• COSMETRICS+ software
• COSMETRICS+ user documentation

Recommended PC Specification for COSMETRICS+

• Windows XP Professional Operating System
• 2.0Ghz Pentium 4 processor, or better
• 2Gb RAM
• 32Mb graphics memory (DirectX 9 compatible)
• 250Gb hard disk
• 1024 x 768 minimum screen resolution
• 2 x USB 2.0 connections