Dermatoscope

• US 20040062056A1
• Filed: 09/22/2003
• Published: 04/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Heine USA Limited (Heine)
• Original Assignee: Heine USA Limited (Heine)
• Inventors: Schade, Dirk, Behrendt, Wolfgang, Schmidt, Otto H., Heine, Helmut A., Schneider, Anton, Merkt, Norbert, Schloesser, Hartmut
• Application Number:
  US10/665,615
• Publication Number:
  US 20040062056A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/555
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/441 Skin evaluation, e.g. for skin disorder diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/084 having annular illumination around the objective
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 25/02 with means for illuminating object viewed

Abstract

In a dermatoscope having a number of light-emitting diodes (7), which are arranged around optics (6), for indirect illumination of an examination area, an optical waveguide (1) is arranged in front of each light-emitting diode (7), the light input surface of which optical waveguide (1) faces the associated light-emitting diode (7) and on whose outer wall the light which is emitted from the light-emitting diode (7) is totally reflected toward the examination area. Instead of a number of optical waveguides (1), a single conical prism is preferably provided, whose base faces the light-emitting diodes (7) and whose cone angle is designed such that the light injected into the base surface from the light-emitting diodes (7) is totally reflected on the outer cone surface.

Claims

1. A dermatoscope comprising a plurality of light-emitting diodes, which are arranged around optics, for indirect illumination of an examination area, and a plurality of optical waveguides, each of said optical wave guides being arranged in front of one associated light-emitting diode and having a light input surface which faces said associated light-emitting diode, said optical waveguides having an outer wall totally reflecting light emitted from said associated light-emitting diode toward said examination area.

2. The dermatoscope as claimed in claim 1, wherein a lens is arranged on said light input surface of each of said optical waveguides.

3. The dermatoscope as claimed in claim 1, wherein a polarization filter is arranged between each of said light-emitting diodes and said optical waveguides.

4. The dermatoscope as claimed in claim 1, wherein selectively switchable shutters are arranged between said light-emitting diodes and said optical waveguides.

5. The dermatoscope as claimed in of claim 1, wherein said light-emitting diodes can be switched off selectively.

6. The dermatoscope as claimed in of claim 1, wherein said light-emitting diodes emit light at a different wavelength individually or in groups, and can be switched on and off individually or in groups.

7. A dermatoscope comprising a plurality of light-emitting diodes, which are arranged around optics, for indirect illumination of an examination area, and a single conical prism having a basis surface facing said light-emitting diodes, the cone angle of said conical prism being designed such that the light which is injected into said basis surface from said light-emitting diodes is totally reflected on an outer cone surface of said conical prism.

8. The dermatoscope as claimed in claim 7, wherein lenses is provided on said basis surface, each of said lenses being arranged opposite to an associated light-emitting diode.

9. The dermatoscope as claimed in claim 8, wherein said lenses are adhesively bonded onto or are integrally formed with said base surface of said conical prism.

10. The dermatoscope as claimed in claim 7, wherein a polarization filter is arranged between each of said light-emitting diodes and said conical prism.

11. The dermatoscope as claimed in claim 7, wherein selectively switchable shutters are arranged between said light-emitting diodes and said conical prism.

12. The dermatoscope as claimed in of claim 7, wherein said light-emitting diodes can be switched off selectively.

13. The dermatoscope as claimed in of claim 7, wherein said light-emitting diodes emit light at a different wavelength individually or in groups, and can be switched on and off individually or in groups.

14. The dermatoscope as claimed in claim 7 , wherein said conical prism has an axial central hole.

15. The dermatoscope as claimed in claim 14, wherein said central hole comprises a surface having a mat finish.

16. The dermatoscope as claimed in claim 14, wherein a transparent contact plate covering said examination area, is arranged at an distal end of said central hole.

17. The dermatoscope as claimed in claim 7, wherein a tubular attachment fitted on said conical prism represents one part of a housing or is used as a holder for said prism on a housing of said dermatoscope for reinforcing.

18. The dermatoscope as claimed in claim 7, wherein holes into which said light-emitting diodes project are provided in said base surface of said conical prism or in a ring adjacent to said base surface.

19. The dermatoscope as claimed in claim 17, wherein a proximal end of said housing is designed such that a camera or additional optics can be plugged onto said housing via an adapter.

20. The dermatoscope as claimed in claim 17, wherein said housing is coupled to a camera such that previously adjusted optics cannot be misadjusted even if said housing is rotated with respect to said camera or with respect to additional optics.

21. The dermatoscope as claimed in claim 19, wherein said adapter comprises a camera ring which can be mounted on optics of said camera, a spacer with a series of spring elements arranged in the form of a ring, and a slide ring which surrounds the spacer, releases said spring elements in an open position and provides an interlocking connection to said dermatoscope housing in a closed position.