Method of detecting anomalies of the skin, more particularly melanomae, and apparatus for carrying out the method
First Claim
1. An apparatus for detecting anomalies of the skin comprising light illumination means for illuminating a two-dimensionally extending examination region of said skin, via a beam between said illuminating means and said examination region with light in an ultraviolet wavelength range during a first time interval and with light in a visible wavelength range during a second time interval different from said first time interval;
- a camera means for recording a fluorescence picture of fluorescent light from the examination region during the first time interval produced by said skin in response to said light in the ultraviolet wavelength range, said fluorescence picture having signal values F(x,y) at its picture points x,y and for recording a reference picture of the examination region during the second time interval in response to said light in the visible wavelength range, said reference picture having signal values R(x,y) at its picture points x,y during the second time interval;
memory means for storing the signal values of at least one of the fluorescence picture and said reference picture; and
processing means responsive to said memory means for producing an output picture having respective signal values A(x,y) at its picture points x,y which are formed from respective quotients F(x,y)/R(x,y) of the signal values of the fluorescence and reference pictures at the same picture points.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for detecting anomalies of the skin, more particularly melanomae, includes a light source for illuminating a two-dimensionally extending examination region of the skin, successively, with ultraviolet light range and with visible light. A camera records a fluorescence picture of the examination region having signal values F(x,y) at its picture points x,y in response to the illumination with ultraviolet light and a reference picture having signal values R(x,y) at its picture points x,y in response to the illumination with visible light. A memory stores the signal values of at least one of the fluorescence picture and said reference picture, and a processor responsive to the memory produces an output picture having respective signal values A(x,y) at its picture points x,y which are formed from respective quotients F(x,y)/R(x,y) of the signal values of the fluorescence and reference pictures at the same picture points. Various filters are provided positioned or positionable between the light source and the examination region or in front of the camera.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus for detecting anomalies of the skin comprising light illumination means for illuminating a two-dimensionally extending examination region of said skin, via a beam between said illuminating means and said examination region with light in an ultraviolet wavelength range during a first time interval and with light in a visible wavelength range during a second time interval different from said first time interval;
- a camera means for recording a fluorescence picture of fluorescent light from the examination region during the first time interval produced by said skin in response to said light in the ultraviolet wavelength range, said fluorescence picture having signal values F(x,y) at its picture points x,y and for recording a reference picture of the examination region during the second time interval in response to said light in the visible wavelength range, said reference picture having signal values R(x,y) at its picture points x,y during the second time interval;
memory means for storing the signal values of at least one of the fluorescence picture and said reference picture; and
processing means responsive to said memory means for producing an output picture having respective signal values A(x,y) at its picture points x,y which are formed from respective quotients F(x,y)/R(x,y) of the signal values of the fluorescence and reference pictures at the same picture points. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21)
- a camera means for recording a fluorescence picture of fluorescent light from the examination region during the first time interval produced by said skin in response to said light in the ultraviolet wavelength range, said fluorescence picture having signal values F(x,y) at its picture points x,y and for recording a reference picture of the examination region during the second time interval in response to said light in the visible wavelength range, said reference picture having signal values R(x,y) at its picture points x,y during the second time interval;
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20. A method of detecting anomalies of the skin comprising illuminating a two-dimensionally extending examination region of said skin with light in an ultraviolet wavelength range during a first time interval;
- recording a fluorescence picture of fluorescent light from the examination region during said first time interval produced by said skin in response to said light in an ultraviolet light range, said fluorescence picture having signal values F(x,y) at its picture points x,y;
illuminating the examination region with light in a visible wavelength range during a second time interval different from said first time interval;
recording a reference picture during the second time interval in response to said light in the visible wavelength range, said reference picture having signal values R(x,y) at its picture points x,y;
storing the signal values of at least one of the recorded fluorescence and reference pictures; and
producing an output picture having signal values A(x,y) at its picture points x,y which is formed from respective quotients F(x,y)/R(x,y) of the signal values of the fluorescence and reference pictures at the same picture points.
- recording a fluorescence picture of fluorescent light from the examination region during said first time interval produced by said skin in response to said light in an ultraviolet light range, said fluorescence picture having signal values F(x,y) at its picture points x,y;
Specification