Method and apparatus for determining the lines of optimal direction for surgical cuts in the human skin
First Claim
1. A method for the detection of the optimal direction of a surgical cut in skin in-vivo comprising the steps of:
- irradiating light into the skin at a point size irradiation site;
scattering and absorbing the light within the skin;
measuring the polar angle dependence of a portion of the irradiated light as it emerges near the irradiated site;
determining a preferential direction of diffuse light transport within the skin and;
deriving the direction of the optimal surgical cut line from the determined preferential direction of the light transport.
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Abstract
The invention relates to a method and a device for in vivo detection of the direction of Langer'"'"'s lines in the skin. Light is irradiated into the skin as primary light at one defined site (7) identified through the epidermis (6) in such a way that it is transported in the skin (5) by scattering or absorption, while part of said irradiated light emerges from the skin as secondary light in the region surrounding the irradiated site. An amplitude-dependent property of secondary light emerging from the skin (5) around the irradiated site is measured in order to determine the preferential direction of the diffuse light transport in the skin (5) and, consequently, determine the orientation of Langer'"'"'s lines thereof.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for the detection of the optimal direction of a surgical cut in skin in-vivo comprising the steps of:
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irradiating light into the skin at a point size irradiation site;
scattering and absorbing the light within the skin;
measuring the polar angle dependence of a portion of the irradiated light as it emerges near the irradiated site;
determining a preferential direction of diffuse light transport within the skin and;
deriving the direction of the optimal surgical cut line from the determined preferential direction of the light transport. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus comprising:
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measurement means with illumination means to provide light to a skin surface at an irradiation location;
detection means to measure the polar dependence of a measurable property of the light emerging from the skin near the irradiation location;
computing means to determine the preferential direction of the light transport in the skin based on the polar dependence of the measurable property of the light emerging from the skin and, display means to display the direction of an optimal surgical cut line on the skin surface. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. An apparatus comprising:
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measurement means with illumination means to provide a primary light to a skin surface at on irradiation location;
detection means to measure the polar dependence of a measurable property of the secondary light emerging from the skin near the irradiation location;
computing means to determine the preferential direction of the light transport and, display means to display the direction of an optimal surgical cut line on the skin surface, wherein the detection means include a CCD array, and wherein the display means comprises marking means, directly attached to the measurement means, to generate a mark on the skin surface, which shows the direction of the optimal surgical cut line. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification