SKIN MONITORING DEVICE, METHOD OF MONITORING THE SKIN, MONITORING DEVICE, METHOD OF IRRADIATING THE SKIN, AND USE OF AN OLED

• US 20090318908A1
• Filed: 06/11/2007
• Published: 12/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Hendriks, Bernardus Hendrikus Wilhelmus, Van Pieterson, Liesbeth, De Kok, Margreet, Van Der Sluis, Paul, Asvadi, Sima, Lucassen, Gerhardus Wilhelmus, Van Driel, Jacqueline
• Granted Patent: US 9,854,975 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/9
• 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 5/418 lymph vessels, ducts or nodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/443 Evaluating skin constituents, e.g. elastin, melanin, water
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/445 Evaluating skin irritation or skin trauma, e.g. rash, eczema, wound, bed sore
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0629 Sequential activation of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0645 Applicators worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0616 Skin treatment other than tanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/062 Photodynamic therapy, i.e. excitation of an agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/067 using laser light

Abstract

Skin monitoring device for application near the skin, comprising a processing circuit connecting means and at least one photosensor configured to detect at least one approximate wavelength of light reflected and/or emitted by the skin, wherein a signal receiving circuit is provided for receiving signals from the at least one photosensor.

Claims

1. Skin monitoring device for application near the skin, comprising a processing circuit connecting means and at least one photosensor, wherein the at least one photosensor is configured to detect at least one approximate wavelength of light reflected and/or emitted by the skin, and wherein a signal receiving circuit is provided for receiving signals from the at least one photosensor.

2. Skin monitoring device according to claim 1, comprising at least one light source that is configured to emit light of at least one, preferably at least two approximate wavelengths of light.

3. Skin monitoring device according to claim 2, wherein the at least one light source comprises a laser.

4. Skin monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein a laser sensor is provided, comprising a laser as a light source for illuminating tissue, the laser being adapted to allow a part of the laser beam, scattered by the tissue, to re-enter into the laser, and a photo sensor for measuring light emitted from the laser, thus obtaining a signal which varies in accordance with the interference between the original laser beam and the scattered beam.

5. Skin monitoring device according to claim 4, wherein the laser sensor is provided with a lens, configured to be arranged between the laser and the skin.

6. Skin monitoring device according to claim 4, wherein the skin monitoring device is configured to emit and/or detect light at a distance of between 0 and 2 mms from the skin.

7. Skin monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one photosensor and/or light source comprises at least one LED (Light Emitting Diode) and/or OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode).

8. Skin monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein at least one, preferably at least two, photosensor(s) is/are configured to detect light of at least two approximate wavelengths reflected and/or emitted by the skin.

9. Skin monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one light source is configured to function as said photosensor.

10. Skin monitoring device according to claim 7, comprising LEDs and/or OLEDs, and laser sensors.

11. Skin monitoring device according to claim 1, which is configured to conform at least partly to the shape of a human body, and preferably is configured to be at least partly flexible.

12. Skin monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the skin monitoring device comprises at least one spacer such that the skin monitoring device emits and/or detects light at a distance from the skin of between approximately 0.1 and 50 mm, particularly between approximately 2 and 30 mm.

13. Skin monitoring device according to claim 1, comprising at least one processing circuit a storage arrangement for storing predetermined skin data, and interface connecting means, wherein the processing circuit is configured to process said signals, to convert said signals into skin data by comparing said signals with predetermined skin data stored in the storage arrangement, and to map said skin data through an interface.

14. Skin monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the connecting means comprises a wireless communication arrangement.

15. Skin monitoring device according to claim 1, comprising a frequency regulating circuit for pulsing the at least one light source with a certain frequency, and wherein the processing circuit is configured to process said signals in accordance with said frequency.

16. Skin monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one lit source is configured to adjust its intensity locally over part of the surface(s) of the at least one light source.

17. Method of monitoring the skin, using at least one photosensor that receives light reflected and/or emitted by the skin, wherein light of at least one, preferably at least two approximate wavelengths reflected and/or emitted by the skin is converted into at least one signal, and wherein the at least one signal is converted into skin data.

18. Method according to claim 17, wherein light is emitted by a light source at at least one, preferably at least two wavelengths of light.

19. Method according to claim 17, wherein said light is emitted and/or reflected by at least one LED and/or OLED.

20. Method according to claim 17, wherein said light is emitted and received by a laser sensor, comprising a laser as a light source and a photo sensor, wherein the laser sensor preferably has a distance from the skin of between approximately 0 and 2 mm.

21. Method according to claim 17, wherein light is emitted at a distance from the skin of between approximately 0.1 and 50 mm, particularly between approximately 2 and 30 mm.

22. Method according to claim 17, wherein skin data are determined from at least the ratio of at least two signals that are converted at at least two different wavelengths of light.

23. Method according to claim 17, wherein light is converted sequentially into signals relating to various locations and/or areas of the skin.

24. Method according to claim 17, wherein the skin data are mapped and analyzed at a distance from the skin by a specialist and/or processing circuit.

25. Monitoring device comprising power source connecting means, at least one LED (Light Emitting Diode) or OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) for emitting as well as detecting at least one approximate wavelength, and a signal detecting circuit, wherein the LED or OLED is configured to have a detecting mode, and wherein the signal detecting circuit is configured to detect signals that flow through the LED or OLED when the LED or OLED is in the detecting mode.

26. Device according to claim 25, wherein at least one LED or OLED detects light emitted by at least one other LED or OLED and reflected by a surface.

27. Method of irradiating skin by applying a monitoring device to said skin, which device monitors reflection and/or emission of light by said skin by means of at least one photosensor, and by emitting light to said skin by at least one LED or OLED, wherein the LED or OLED is controlled on the basis of signals from said at least one photosensor.

28. Method according to claim 27, wherein at least one LED or OLED is used as photosensor.

29. Use of a LED or OLED for registering light reflected or emitted by skin at a distance of between 0 and 5 mm.