Skin test image analysis apparatuses and methods thereof
First Claim
1. An apparatus for skin testing comprising:
- a housing with an opening configured to define a field of view of a skin testing region during use;
a test cartridge configured to be removably inserted into the housing, the test cartridge comprising a plurality of microneedles, wherein each of the plurality of microneedles is spaced one millimeter to fifteen millimeters apart from at least one other microneedle in the plurality of microneedles to generate a corresponding plurality of allergy test sample sites spaced one millimeter to fifteen millimeters apart in the field of view of the skin testing region, wherein the housing has an actuator apparatus integrated within the housing to manage actuation of the test cartridge within the opening of the housing when the test cartridge is removably inserted into the housing;
an image sensing apparatus positioned with respect to the housing to capture one or more images in the field of view provided by the opening in the housing;
an illumination apparatus positioned with respect to the housing to direct light towards at least a portion of the field of view provided by the opening in the housing;
a binding apparatus having one or more straps configured to detachably secure the housing to a body area having a circumference with the opening over the skin testing region and a band extending from the one or more straps and around the housing and the image sensing apparatus configured to apply pressure around the circumference of the body area and to a skin surface proximate the skin testing region to constrain movement of the opening over the skin testing region and to maintain a substantially fixed optical distance and spatial registration between the image sensing apparatus and the skin testing region; and
an image processing controller configured to execute one or more programmed instructions comprising;
obtaining, from the image sensing apparatus, a baseline image of the skin testing region prior to an assessment image of the skin testing region including the two or more allergy test sample sites of the corresponding plurality of allergy test sample sites generated by the plurality of microneedles of the test cartridge;
generating a difference image between the baseline image and the assessment image; and
analyzing the two or more allergy test sample sites of the corresponding plurality of allergy test sample sites generated by the plurality of microneedles of the test cartridge based on the difference image to provide a skin test result for each of the two or more allergy test sample sites based on the analysis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for making an apparatus for skin testing includes a housing with an opening which defines a field of view of a skin testing region, an image sensing apparatus, an illumination apparatus, a binding apparatus, and an image processing controller. The image sensing apparatus is positioned with respect to the housing to capture images in the field of view provided by the opening. The illumination apparatus is positioned within the housing to direct light towards a portion of the field of view provided by the opening. The binding apparatus detachably secures the housing over the skin testing region and maintains a fixed distance between the image sensing apparatus and the skin testing region. The controller is configured to analyze test samples sites in each of the captured images from the image sensing apparatus and provide a skin test result for each of the test sample sites.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. An apparatus for skin testing comprising:
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a housing with an opening configured to define a field of view of a skin testing region during use; a test cartridge configured to be removably inserted into the housing, the test cartridge comprising a plurality of microneedles, wherein each of the plurality of microneedles is spaced one millimeter to fifteen millimeters apart from at least one other microneedle in the plurality of microneedles to generate a corresponding plurality of allergy test sample sites spaced one millimeter to fifteen millimeters apart in the field of view of the skin testing region, wherein the housing has an actuator apparatus integrated within the housing to manage actuation of the test cartridge within the opening of the housing when the test cartridge is removably inserted into the housing; an image sensing apparatus positioned with respect to the housing to capture one or more images in the field of view provided by the opening in the housing; an illumination apparatus positioned with respect to the housing to direct light towards at least a portion of the field of view provided by the opening in the housing; a binding apparatus having one or more straps configured to detachably secure the housing to a body area having a circumference with the opening over the skin testing region and a band extending from the one or more straps and around the housing and the image sensing apparatus configured to apply pressure around the circumference of the body area and to a skin surface proximate the skin testing region to constrain movement of the opening over the skin testing region and to maintain a substantially fixed optical distance and spatial registration between the image sensing apparatus and the skin testing region; and an image processing controller configured to execute one or more programmed instructions comprising; obtaining, from the image sensing apparatus, a baseline image of the skin testing region prior to an assessment image of the skin testing region including the two or more allergy test sample sites of the corresponding plurality of allergy test sample sites generated by the plurality of microneedles of the test cartridge; generating a difference image between the baseline image and the assessment image; and analyzing the two or more allergy test sample sites of the corresponding plurality of allergy test sample sites generated by the plurality of microneedles of the test cartridge based on the difference image to provide a skin test result for each of the two or more allergy test sample sites based on the analysis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for making an apparatus for skin testing, the method comprising:
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providing a housing with an opening configured to define a field of view of a skin testing region during use; providing a test cartridge configured to be removably inserted into the housing, the test cartridge comprising a plurality of microneedles, wherein each of the plurality of microneedles is spaced one millimeter to fifteen millimeters apart from at least one other microneedle in the plurality of microneedles to generate a corresponding plurality of allergy test sample sites spaced one millimeter to fifteen millimeters apart in the field of view of the skin testing region, wherein the housing has an actuator apparatus integrated within the housing to manage actuation of the test cartridge within the opening of the housing when the test cartridge is removably inserted into the housing; positioning an image sensing apparatus with respect to the housing to capture one or more images in the field of view provided by the opening in the housing; positioning an illumination apparatus with respect to the housing to direct light towards at least a portion of the field of view provided by the opening in the housing; providing a binding apparatus having one or more straps configured to detachably secure the housing to a body area having a circumference with the opening over the skin testing region and a band extending from the one or more straps and around the housing and the image sensing apparatus configured to apply pressure around the circumference of the body area and to a skin surface proximate the skin testing region to constrain movement of the opening over the skin testing region and to maintain a substantially fixed optical distance and spatial registration between the image sensing apparatus and the skin testing region; and providing an image processing controller configured to execute one or more programmed instructions comprising; obtaining, from the image sensing apparatus, a baseline image of the skin testing region prior to an assessment image of the skin testing region including the two or more allergy test sample sites of the corresponding plurality of allergy test sample sites generated by the plurality of microneedles of the test cartridge; generating a difference image between the baseline image and the assessment image; and analyzing the two or more allergy test sample sites of the corresponding plurality of allergy test sample sites generated by the plurality of microneedles of the test cartridge based on the difference image to provide a skin test result for each of the two or more allergy test sample sites based on the analysis. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification