Skin Imaging system with probe

• US 20060092315A1
• Filed: 06/29/2005
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Kollias, Nikiforos, Payonk, Gregory, Stamatas, Georgios
• Granted Patent: US 8,026,942 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/370
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0064 Body surface scanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0071 by measuring fluorescence emission
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/441 Skin evaluation, e.g. for skin disorder diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/442 Evaluating skin mechanical properties, e.g. elasticity, hardness, texture, wrinkle assessment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/443 Evaluating skin constituents, e.g. elastin, melanin, water
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/444 Evaluating skin marks, e.g. mole, nevi, tumour, scar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/445 Evaluating skin irritation or skin trauma, e.g. rash, eczema, wound, bed sore
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/663 for controlling interchangeable camera parts based on electronic image sensor signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/74 by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

A skin testing and imaging station and corresponding method for capturing, displaying and analyzing images of a person and for testing the skin using a variety of probes includes a digital camera, a light source capable of providing at least two different wavelengths of light, a plurality of probes for conducting skin tests, a touch-screen display and a computer for controlling the components of the station. The apparatus selectively captures and displays a plurality of digital images using different wavelengths of illuminating light, e.g., using a plurality of flashes and filters, some of which may be adjustable to adjust the angle of incidence of the illuminating light on the subject. In video mode, the camera displays a real time image on the display facilitating a user to position a probe for testing any specific area of the skin. Preferably, the apparatus is self-serve, allowing any person to capture, review and analyze the images and skin data. Verbal and/or graphic instructions to a user aid in use of the station. An intuitive graphic user interface with thumbnail images is employed. Focus control, zoom and synchronized side-by side comparison of images are available.

Claims

1. An apparatus for capturing data about a person'"'"'s skin, comprising:

a camera for capturing the images of the person;

a display for displaying images captured by said camera;

probe means for measuring a predetermined parameter of the skin in a specific area; and

control means for controlling said camera, said probe means and said display for selectively capturing images of the person and skin data from said probe means and displaying the captured images and skin data on said display.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said display selectably displays a real time image captured by said camera.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of said real time image may be selectively enlarged.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, further including means for illumination permitting said camera to capture images under a plurality of lighting conditions, said images displayable on said display.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further including memory means for storing a plurality of images captured by said camera and skin data from said probe means, said control means controlling access to said plurality of images and skin data stored in said memory means and controlling display of said plurality of images and skin data on said display.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said display is a touch-screen display for displaying images captured by said camera, said touch-screen display capable of receiving input from an operator of the apparatus for controlling the review of captured images in conjunction with said control means.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further including means for providing usage instructions to a user.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the instructions provided by said means for providing usage instructions enable a person having no training in the use of the apparatus to use it to capture and view images taken thereby and to operate said probe means.

9. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said means for illuminating provides light selected from at least one of visible light, polarized light, ultraviolet light and blue light.

10. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said control means includes a computer programmed to direct said camera and said means for illuminating to automatically sequentially capture a plurality of images using a plurality of different wavelengths of light.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said probe means includes at least one of a probe for measuring diffuse reflectance spectrum, fluorescent spectrum, infrared spectrum, conductivity, elastic modulus and moisturization.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said probe means includes a plurality of probes selectable by the user.

13. A method of capturing data about a person'"'"'s skin, comprising the steps of:

(A) providing an imaging station having, a camera, a light source, a display for displaying images captured by the camera;

at least one probe for measuring a parameter of the skin in a specific area, a controller with an operator interface;

(B) positioning the person relative to the camera;

(C) providing the person with the options of capturing images with the camera or obtaining skin data with the probe;

(D) implementing the option selected in the prior step;

(E) storing the data captured and;

(F) selectively displaying the captured data on the display.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of implementing when the probe option is selected includes displaying a real-time image of the user to allow the user to visualize and interactively adjust the position of the probe, enabling the probe and activating the probe to capture the skin data.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the imaging station has a plurality of sources of light of different wavelengths and the plurality of different images includes images captured with different wavelengths of light.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of repeating the steps of enabling the probe and activating the probe a selected number of times to capture additional data.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the position of the probe on at least one occasion of activating is determined in reference to a photographic image of the person taken at a time removed from the time of activation.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the probe is moved to at least one different position on the surface of the skin of the person between sequential steps of activation.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of providing instructions for self-use of the imaging/probe station to the user thereof in the form of at least one of text, graphics and auditory instructions.

20. A method for selectively capturing and viewing a plurality of digital images, comprising the steps of:

(A) sequentially capturing a plurality of digital images by sequentially illuminating a subject with a plurality of different wavelengths of light and synchronously capturing the plurality of images during said step of sequentially illuminating;

(B) storing the captured images;

(C) displaying a plurality of the captured images as thumbnail images on a display;

(D) selecting at least one of the thumbnail images for display at a larger scale on the display;

(E) displaying the selected image at the larger scale;

(F) selecting a probe for measuring a particular skin characteristic;

(G) positioning the probe on the specific area of the skin;

(H) activating the probe to capture the skin data;

(I) storing the skin data;

(J) displaying the skin data to the user.