Ultrasonic imaging systems for personal identification

High resolution A-Scan and B-Scan ultrasonography has been widely used for a variety of applications involving scanning both dermal and subdermal regions of the body. Traditional methods for studying the dermatoglyphic patterns of the friction or palmer skin surfaces on the hands have usually been performed using non-ultrasonic methods. These methods relied on optical imaging using Frustrated Total Internal Reflection spectroscopy, or FTIR, and were met with significant limitations as a variety of novel applications were developed, specifically in the areas of biometrics: automated methods for the identification of individuals. The following discusses the design and development of a low cost, electro-mechanical ultrasonic scanner for obtaining high resolution C-scan images of the friction skin ridge structure found on the digits of the hands or feet in order to create imagery of sufficient quality for use in automated personal identification systems. The obtained imagery results in accuracy rates nearly an order of magnitude greater than traditional optical methods