Medical diagnosis system and method with multispectral imaging
First Claim
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1. A system for generating data for use in diagnosing the condition of surface tissue of a patient, comprising:
- first means for scanning the surface tissue of a patient and for generating simultaneously n different signals from the light reflected from each incremental area of the surface tissue, each different signal being directly related to the reflectance of light of a different wavelength range from said incremental area, n being an integer not less than 2;
second means for providing a preselected number of derived signals from the n signals, associated with each incremental area, each derived signal being a function of at least two of said n signals; and
output means including at least means responsive to said derived signals for providing output data, indicative of the surface tissue condition.
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Abstract
A skin diagnosis system includes a scanning and optical arrangement whereby light reflected from each incremental area (pixel) of the skin is directed simultaneously to three separate light filters, e.g., IR, red, and green. As a result the three devices simultaneously produce three signals which are directly related to the reflectance of light of different wavelengths from the corresponding pixel. These three signals for each pixel after processing are used as inputs to one or more output devices to produce a visual color display and/or a hard copy color print, for one useable as a diagnostic aid by a physician.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A system for generating data for use in diagnosing the condition of surface tissue of a patient, comprising:
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first means for scanning the surface tissue of a patient and for generating simultaneously n different signals from the light reflected from each incremental area of the surface tissue, each different signal being directly related to the reflectance of light of a different wavelength range from said incremental area, n being an integer not less than 2; second means for providing a preselected number of derived signals from the n signals, associated with each incremental area, each derived signal being a function of at least two of said n signals; and output means including at least means responsive to said derived signals for providing output data, indicative of the surface tissue condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. Apparatus for diagnosing the condition of surface tissue of a patient, comprising:
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means for directing light at the tissue; a plurality of photosensitive detectors which each generate an output dependent on the intensity of light falling thereon; a beamsplitter for directing portions of the same light reflected from each of a multiplicity of pixels on the tissue surface, towards each of said detectors; a plurality of filter means, each disposed between said beamsplitter and a corresponding one of said detectors, to allow a different selected wavelength range to reach the corresponding detector; a circuit connected to said plurality of detectors for generating a derived signal corresponding to each of said pixels, wherein the signal is a function of the outputs of a plurality of said detectors resulting from the incidence of light thereon from the same pixels; and output means responsive to said circuit for providing output data indicative of the surface tissue condition.
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12. A method of generating data useful in the diagnosis of the depth of burns of burned skin of a patient, the steps comprising:
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illuminating said burned skin; scanning incremental areas of said illuminated burned skin; simultaneously sensing light at n different wavelength ranges reflected by each incremental area, and simultaneously generating n signals related thereto; from the n signals generated from the light reflected from each incremental area, generating a plurality of derived signals, each of said derived signals being a function of at least two of said n signals; and utilizing the derived signals related to each incremental area to produce output data indicative of the condition of the scanned skin. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification