Blanching Device for Use in Evaluating Skin Condition
First Claim
1. A blanching device for use in evaluating skin condition, comprising at least one window carried at the lower end of a support for pressing the window downwardly against the skin to blanch a region of the skin, the window being yieldably connected to the support such that upon reaching a pre-determined blanching pressure the window rapidly retracts upwardly relative to the support to relieve the pressure on the skin and allow blood to re-enter the blanched region.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A blanching device is described for use in evaluating skin condition. The blanching device has a window which is pressed against the skin, and retracts when a pre-determined pressure is reached to allow blood to re-enter the blanched region of skin. There is further described systems to evaluate skin condition using a blanching device, based on light scattered from the blanched region.
6 Citations
25 Claims
- 1. A blanching device for use in evaluating skin condition, comprising at least one window carried at the lower end of a support for pressing the window downwardly against the skin to blanch a region of the skin, the window being yieldably connected to the support such that upon reaching a pre-determined blanching pressure the window rapidly retracts upwardly relative to the support to relieve the pressure on the skin and allow blood to re-enter the blanched region.
-
24. A system for use in evaluating skin condition, comprising means for momentarily pressing on the skin to blanch a region of the skin and then allow blood to re-enter the blanched region, the apparatus further including at least one light emitter to direct light onto the blanched region of skin and at least one light detector to monitor said light after scattering from the blanched region of skin, wherein the light emitter and light detector direct light onto, and receive light from, the blanched region of skin substantially along a common axis which is non-normal to the blanched region of skin so as to substantially eliminate specular reflections from the detected light.
-
25. A system for use in evaluating skin condition, comprising means for momentarily pressing on the skin to blanch a region of the skin and then allow blood to re-enter the blanched region, at least one light emitter to direct light onto the blanched region of skin, and at least one light detector to monitor said light after scattering from the blanched region of skin and provide a generally exponential rising signal corresponding to the re-entry of blood into the blanched region, the apparatus further including processing means for analysing the signal into a plurality of components having different time constants, and calculating the proportions of the components in the total signal.
Specification