Indo-American scientist develops first 3D model of human fingerprint

Washington: An Indian-American scientist has built the first 3-D model of a human fingerprint, an advance that could boost the accuracy of fingerprint-matching systems and improve security technology.

Anil Jain, from Michigan State University, and colleagues developed a method which takes a two-dimensional image of a fingerprint and maps it to a 3-D finger surface.

The 3-D finger surface, complete with all the ridges and valleys that make up the human fingerprint, is made using a 3-D printer. It creates what Jain's team called a fingerprint 'phantom'.

Imaging phantoms are common in the world of medical imaging. For example, to make sure an MRI machine or a CT scanner is working properly, it needs to first image an object of known dimensions and material properties.

"In health care, a 3-D heart or kidney can be created. Because the dimensions are known, they can be put into a scanner and the imaging system can be calibrated," Jain said.

In this case, the ultimate goal is to have a precise fingerprint model with known properties and features that can be used to calibrate existing technology used to match fingerprints.

"When I have this 3-D fingerprint phantom, I know its precise measurements," said Jain, an alumnus of Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur.

"And because I know the true dimensions of the fingerprint features on this phantom, I can better evaluate fingerprint readers," he said.

While the 3-D model doesn't yet have the exact texture or feel of a real finger, it could advance fingerprint sensing and matching technology, researchers said.

"Tools like this would help improve the overall accuracy of fingerprint-matching systems, which eventually leads to better security in applications ranging from law enforcement to mobile phone unlock," Jain said.