Computerized color analysis of "xue yu" (blood stasis) in the sublingual vein using a new technology

Computer-assisted image analyses were performed on the color of the tongues of 95 medical students to enhance the accuracy and objectivity of tongue inspections for determining blood stasis. Areas from the sublingual vein were selected and subjected to image analysis. A slide scanner was used to digitize the color slides, and the digital information was transmitted to a personal computer for subsequent feature extraction and analysis. A comparison was then made between the computerized data using Red-Green-Blue color components, and inspection with the naked eye based on the diagnostics of traditional Chinese medicine. The results obtained suggest that there are statistically significant correlations between visual analyses and the computerized normalized R value (F value; 3.397, p<0.05). The examination of sublingual veins with the naked eye showed the validity of computer-assisted image analysis. This analysis may provide a potential solution to the demand for a sophisticated means of quantitative and qualitative observation of physiological parameters regarding blood stasis, including that for the sublingual vein.