Optical Sensor and Method for Identifying the Presence of Skin and the Pigmentation of Skin

• US 20090270848A1
• Filed: 04/27/2009
• Published: 10/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Channel Investments, LLC
• Original Assignee: TRIA Beauty Incorporated (Channel Investments, LLC)
• Inventors: Island, Tobin C., Grove, Robert E., Weckwerth, Mark V.
• Granted Patent: US 9,687,671 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00057 Light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/065 for measuring contact or contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0238 Optical sensor arrangements for performing transmission measurements on body tissue
• 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: A61B 5/6843 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0652 Arrays of diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0659 infrared
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0662 Visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0616 Skin treatment other than tanning

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are provided to control a device, such as a light emitting dermatologic or cosmetic treatment device, and ensure that the device is in contact with skin while also determining the pigmentation level of skin. One or more light sources contact the skin and one or more detectors measure spectral remission from the skin. The obtained remission measurements are compared with known skin spectral remission values, and calibration allows measurements of absolute remission to be converted to fractional remission values. Skin pigmentation levels are compared to known base-line levels to determine and control appropriate treatment parameters. A temperature sensor allows correction for temperature variations. The apparatus may or may not be incorporated into the treatment device.

Claims

1. An optical device for identifying the presence of skin and a level of pigmentation in the skin, the optical device comprising,

a housing having a surface contacting aperture;

one or more light sources in the housing;

one or more detectors in the housing; and

control circuitry coupled to the one or more light sources and the one or more detectors, the control circuitry comprising a microprocessor and configured to identify whether the surface contacting aperture is in contact with skin and to determine a pigmentation level of said skin.

2. The optical device of claim 1 further comprising a temperature sensor coupled to the control circuitry.

3. The optical device of claim 1 wherein the one or more light sources is a single broad band light source, and the one or more detectors is selected from a single broad band detector and multiple detectors, each of the multiple detectors detecting a different optical band.

4. The optical device of claim 1 wherein the one or more light sources is multiple light sources, each of the multiple light sources having a different wavelength, and the one or more detectors is a single broad band detector.

5. The optical device of claim 1 wherein the one or more light sources is multiple light sources, each of the multiple light sources having a different wavelength, and the one or more detectors is multiple detectors, each of the multiple detectors detecting a different wavelength.

6. The optical device of claim 1 wherein the one or more light sources is one or more LEDs selected from green, super red, yellow, blue and infrared LEDs.

7. The optical device of claim 1 further comprising an indicator coupled to the control circuitry.

8. The optical device of claim 7 wherein the indicator displays whether the surface contacting aperture is in contact with the skin and information about pigmentation in the skin.

9. A dermatologic treatment device having a skin contacting structure, the device comprising

a housing;

a treatment source within the housing capable of being activated to supply at least a first level and a second level of a dermatologic treatment through the skin contacting structure;

an optical control system mounted within the housing, the optical control system comprising one or more light sources and one or more detectors coupled to control circuitry having a microprocessor, the control circuitry configured to identify whether the skin contacting structure is in contact with skin and to determine a pigmentation level of said skin.

10. The dermatologic treatment device of claim 9 wherein the optical control system further comprises a temperature sensor coupled to the control circuitry.

11. The dermatologic treatment device of claim 9 wherein the one or more light sources is a single broad band light source, and the one or more detectors is selected from a single broad band detector and multiple detectors, each of the multiple detectors detecting a different optical band.

12. The dermatologic treatment device of claim 9 wherein the one or more light sources is multiple light sources, each of the multiple light sources having a different wavelength, and the one or more detectors is a single broad band detector.

13. The dermatologic treatment device of claim 9 wherein the one or more light sources is multiple light sources, each of the multiple light sources having a different wavelength, and the one or more detectors is multiple detectors, each of the multiple detectors detecting a different wavelength.

14. The dermatologic treatment device of claim 9 wherein the one or more light sources is one or more LEDs selected from green, super red, yellow, blue and infrared LEDs.

15. The dermatologic treatment device of claim 9 further comprising an indicator coupled to the control circuitry.

16. The dermatologic treatment device of claim 15 wherein the indicator displays whether the surface contacting aperture is in contact with skin and information about pigmentation in the skin.

17. A method for identifying the presence of skin and a level of pigmentation in the skin, the method comprising:

providing an optical device having a light source, a detector and control circuitry, the control circuitry having a microprocessor programmed with control data comprising known skin spectral remission values and known skin pigmentation threshold values;

determining whether the optical device is contacting skin by placing the optical device on a surface to be identified, directing light from the light source onto the surface, detecting a surface spectral remission value, comparing the surface spectral remission value to the known skin spectral remission values and calculating a fractional remission value; and

determining a level of pigmentation in the skin by sensing a pigmentation level of the skin to be tested and comparing the pigmentation level of the skin to be tested with the known skin pigmentation threshold values.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of providing to a user of the optical device results of determining whether the optical device is contacting skin and determining a level of pigmentation in the skin.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of controlling a dermatologic treatment device to prevent operation of the treatment device unless the treatment device is in contact with skin.

20. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of controlling an output level of a light-based dermatologic treatment device in accordance with determined pigmentation levels of the skin.

21. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of adjusting for light scattering when comparing the known skin spectral remission values to the spectral remission of the skin.

22. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of calibrating to correct for light that is reflected back to the detector without reaching the skin to be tested.

23. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of correcting for temperature variations.