SYSTEM, DEVICE, AND METHOD FOR DERMAL IMAGING

• US 20080194928A1
• Filed: 01/07/2008
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: mySkin Inc.
• Original Assignee: mySkin Inc.
• Inventors: Koruga, Djuro, Marinkovich, Sava, Mehendale, Rahul, Bandic, Jadran
• Application Number:
  US11/970,448
• Publication Number:
  US 20080194928A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/306
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0082 adapted for particular medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0088 for oral or dental tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0091 for mammography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• 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: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/20 for electronic clinical trials or questionnaires
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems

Abstract

In embodiments of the present invention, systems and methods of a non-invasive imaging device may comprise an illumination source comprising an incident light source to direct light upon skin, and a detector for detecting the degree of polarization of light reflected from the skin. A system and method of determining a skin state may be based on an aspect of the polarization of the reflected light.

Claims

1. A non-invasive imaging device, comprising:

an illumination source comprising an incident light source to direct light upon skin; and

a detector for detecting the degree of polarization of light reflected from the skin.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the illumination source is positioned to direct light at a selected angle alpha.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein varying alpha varies the depth of the measurement of the layers in the skin.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein each depth has a specific angle which produces a full polarized reflection.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the incident light source is an unpolarized light source.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the incident light source is a polarized light source.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising a sensor for capturing an image of the reflected light.

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising an optical facility for detecting reflected light from the skin.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising a communication facility for transmitting the detected information.

11. The device of claim 1, further comprising a storage facility for storing information collected by the device.

7. (canceled)

12. A method of determining a skin state, comprising:

illuminating skin with an incident light source;

detecting the degree of polarization of light reflected from the skin; and

determining a skin state based on an aspect of the polarization of the reflected light.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the incident light is directed at a selected angle alpha.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein varying alpha varies the depth of the measurement of the layers in the skin.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein each depth has a specific angle which produces a full polarized reflection.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the incident light is unpolarized light.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the incident light is polarized light.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the aspect of the polarization is at least one of an orientation, an amplitude, a phase, an angle, a shape, a degree, and an amount.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein determining is done using an algorithm.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the algorithm involves artificial neural networks.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the algorithm uses fuzzy logic.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein the algorithm involves fractal and multi-fractal analysis.

24. The method of claim 12, further comprising, filtering the reflected light to obtain polarized light of a wavelength defined by the filter output.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein algorithmic analysis is performed on the filtered image.

26. The method of claim 12, wherein determining involves creating an image of the difference between reflected diffusion light and reflected polarized light.

27. The method of claim 12, wherein determining involves comparing the aspect of the polarization of the reflected light to a calibration signal.

17. (canceled)

28-127. -127. (canceled)