Optical method and apparatus for detecting and measuring aging, photoaging, dermal disease and pigmentation in skin
First Claim
1. Apparatus for inducing naturally occurring fluorescence, in vivo, in human skin and for measuring and quantifying such induced fluorescence for diagnostic purposes comprising:
- means for producing laser light energy having a predetermined wavelength and power;
means responsive to said laser light energy for directing the laser light energy to an untreated skin area to induce endogenous fluorescence;
means for receiving endogenous fluorescent radiation from the skin area induced to fluorescence by said laser light energy;
means for performing a spectral analysis of said received fluorescent radiation and for developing a numerical value representative of a predetermined portion of said spectrum, said numerical value having use as a diagnostic measure of the untreated skin area induced to endogenous fluorescence; and
means responsive to said receiving means for directing said received endogenous fluorescent radiation to said spectral analysis means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for inducing fluorescence in human skin, in vivo, and for evaluating certain skin characteristics from the spectral intensity of induced fluorescence. The energy of a helium-cadmium laser is directed to a skin area to be evaluated by a fiberoptic element. The induced fluorescent energy having a wavelength band of interest above that of the laser wavelength, is directed to a device by a fiberoptic path for performing a spectral analysis of the fluorescent intensity. A ratio of chracteristic portions of fluorescent intensity of the skin area under test is developed and used to compare with different test subjects. The developed ratio, when taken in relation to the skin of subjects of different ages, indicates a marked difference in older subjects in comparison to that of very young subjects which correlates with long-term exposure of the skin to ultraviolet radiation. The method and apparatus are useful for evaluating skin pigmentation as well as for evaluating certain solid compounds such as amino acids.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. Apparatus for inducing naturally occurring fluorescence, in vivo, in human skin and for measuring and quantifying such induced fluorescence for diagnostic purposes comprising:
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means for producing laser light energy having a predetermined wavelength and power; means responsive to said laser light energy for directing the laser light energy to an untreated skin area to induce endogenous fluorescence; means for receiving endogenous fluorescent radiation from the skin area induced to fluorescence by said laser light energy; means for performing a spectral analysis of said received fluorescent radiation and for developing a numerical value representative of a predetermined portion of said spectrum, said numerical value having use as a diagnostic measure of the untreated skin area induced to endogenous fluorescence; and means responsive to said receiving means for directing said received endogenous fluorescent radiation to said spectral analysis means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for inducing naturally occurring fluorescence in untreated human skin, in vivo, comprising the steps of:
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developing laser light energy of a predetermined ultraviolet band wavelength; and directing said laser light energy to an area of untreated skin to be induced to endogenous fluorescence. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for quantifying and evaluating naturally occurring induced fluorescence in human skin, in vivo, comprising the steps of:
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including an untreated subject area to endogenous fluorescence by application of laser energy; sensing spectra of the induced endogenous fluorescent radiation; obtaining a measure of intensity of said induced endogenous fluorescent radiation spectra over a predetermined frequency band; and using said measure of intensity as a basis to make comparisons between different test subject areas for diagnostic purposes. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for inducing naturally occurring fluorescence, in vivo, in human skin and for measuring and quantifying such induced fluorescence for diagnostic purposes comprising the steps of:
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developing laser light energy having a predetermined wavelength and power; directing said laser light energy to an untreated area of skin of an individual to induce endogenous fluorescence; sending spectra of endogenous fluorescent radiation induced from said skin area; obtaining a measure of intensity of said induced radiation spectra over a predetermined frequency band; and using said measure of intensity as a basis to make comparisons for diagnostic purposes between said skin area and other skin areas of the same individual.
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Specification