OPTICAL SENSOR DEVICE AND IMAGE PROCESSING UNIT FOR MEASURING CHEMICAL CONCENTRATIONS, CHEMICAL SATURATIONS AND BIOPHYSICAL PARAMETERS

• US 20090299154A1
• Filed: 03/26/2006
• Published: 12/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cnoga Holdings Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Cnoga Holdings Ltd.
• Inventors: Segman, Yosef
• Granted Patent: US 8,335,550 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0077 Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow; Combined pulse/heart-rate/blood pressure determination; Evaluating a cardiovascular condition not otherwise provided for, e.g. using combinations of techniques provided for in this group with electrocardiography or electroauscultation; Heart catheters for measuring blood pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02141 Details of apparatus construction, e.g. pump units or housings therefor, cuff pressurising systems, arrangements of fluid conduits or circuits A61B5/02233, A61B5/0235 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/08 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for evaluating the respiratory organs A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/417 the bone marrow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4244 liver
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/443 Evaluating skin constituents, e.g. elastin, melanin, water
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/444 Evaluating skin marks, e.g. mole, nevi, tumour, scar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/445 Evaluating skin irritation or skin trauma, e.g. rash, eczema, wound, bed sore
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30004 Biomedical image processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0012 Biomedical image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/146 Imager structures

Abstract

Optical sensor devices, image processing devices, methods and computer readable code computer-readable storage media for detecting biophysical parameters, chemical concentrations, chemical saturations, vital signs and physiological information such as a malignant condition are provided. In some embodiments, the optical sensor includes an array of photodetectors, where each photodetector is configured to detect a spectrum of light. In some embodiments, the image processing device receives a live still or video electronic image, or alternatively, the electronic image is provided from an electronic storage media. Exemplary physiological parameters include but are not limited to a pulse rate, a biophysical or physiological property of skin, a cardiovascular property, a property related to an organ such as the liver or the kidneys, and a temperature fluctuation. In some embodiments, the physiological parameter is indicative of a malady including but not limited to an autoimmune disease, a cancer, a nutritional deficiency, a malignant condition of bone marrow, a present of an infectious microbe such as a fungus, a present of hepatitis, and a cardiovascular disorder a pulmonary disorder. Exemplary chemical concentrations include but are not limited to a chemical saturation, a pH level, a pH level in blood vessels such as capillarys or in skin, a glucose level such as a blood glucose level, a urea nitrogen level such as a blood urea nitrogen level, a CO2 level such as a blood CO2 level or a CO2 saturation level, and an oxygen level such as a blood oxygen level or a blood oxygen saturation level. In some embodiments, the biophysical parameter, physiological parameter or chemical concentration is obtained from reflecting light from tissue from a mammalian subject. Alternatively one or more of these parameters are detected from a food item such as food tissue, a consumable beverage such as an alcoholic beverage, a dairy product, wine, a baked good, a fruit and a vegetable. Exemplary parameters related to food items include but are not limited to a parameter indicative of cooking or spoilage, a pH, a concentration of an antioxidant, and a concentration of an anti-inflammatory agent.

Claims

1. An optical sensor device for detecting a concentration of at least one substance in or on a mammalian subject the device comprising:

a. an array of photodetectors, each photodetector configured to detect a spectrum of light, said array for receiving light reflected from and/or traversing a first tissue of the mammalian subject and for producing an electric signal; and

b. a processing unit adapted to receive and electronically process said electric signal to generate output indicative of at least one of a concentration and a concentration profile of at least one substance within or on the mammalian subject or a region thereof.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said concentration profile is selected from the group consisting of a spatial concentration profile and a temporal concentration profile

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said spatial concentration profile is a pigmentation concentration profile.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said processing unit is further operative to generate a medical diagnosis from said pigmentation concentration profile.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the concentration of a substance is a chemical concentration and said processing unit is adapted to generate output indicative of said chemical concentration.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said concentration of said substance is a concentration beneath a surface of said first tissue.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said concentration of said substance is a concentration in a localized region of said first tissue.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein said concentration of said substance is a concentration in a layer of said first tissue.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein said concentration of said substance is a concentration in a sub-tissue of said first tissue.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the concentration of a substance is a tissue surface smoothness indicative of the undersurface substance concentration such as Collagen.

11. The device of any of claims 6-10 wherein said electronic processing includes computing a smoothness function.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein:

a. said array of photodetectors is adapted to receive light including light reflected from said first tissue and to produce said electric signal in accordance with said received reflected light;

b. said processing unit is adapted to generate said indicative output in accordance with said electric signal derived from said reflected light.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein:

a. said array of photodetectors is adapted to receive light including light traversing said first tissue and to produce said electric signal in accordance with said received traversing light; and

b. said processing unit is adapted to generate said indicative output in accordance with said electric signal derived from said traversing light.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein said mammalian subject is a human subject.

15. The device of claim 1 wherein said processing includes generating an electronic image.

16. The device of claim 1 wherein said chemical concentration is selected from the group consisting of a concentration of a molecule and a chemical saturation.

17. The device of claim 1 wherein said chemical concentration is a local concentration.

18. The optical sensor device of claim 1 wherein said tissue includes at least one of a matrix and a mass of solid tissue

19. The optical sensor device of claim 1 wherein said tissue includes tissue elements suspended in a fluid.

20. The optical sensor device of claim 1 wherein said tissue includes tissue elements suspended in a bodily fluid.

21. The optical sensor device of claim 1 wherein said tissue includes blood tissue

22. The optical sensor device of claim 1, wherein said processing unit is operative to generate output indicative of said local concentration of said substance within a second tissue of the mammalian subject.

23. The device of claim 22 wherein said second tissue is selected from the group consisting of soft tissue, hard tissue, skin, surface tissue, outer tissue, internal tissue, a membrane, fetal tissue and endothelial tissue.

24. The device of claim 1 wherein said first tissue is selected from the group consisting of soft tissue, hard tissue, skin tissue, surface tissue, outer tissue, internal tissue, a membrane, fetal tissue, liquid tissue, and endothelial tissue.

25. The optical sensor device of claim 1 wherein said processing unit is configured to generate output indicative a parameter selected from the group consisting of a glucose level, a pH level, a CO2 level, an oxygen level, an oxygen saturation level, red cells concentration, a CO2 saturation level, a bilirubin level, a skin saturation level, a concentration or saturation of salt, a concentration of an oily substance, and a urea nitrogen level.

26. The optical sensor device of claim 1, wherein said processing unit is operative to generate output indicative of a said concentration within bodily fluid of the mammalian subject.

27. The optical sensor device of claim 26 wherein said bodily fluid is selected from the group consisting of blood and sweat.

28. The optical sensor device of claim 1, wherein said processing unit is operative to generate output indicative of a said concentration within a circulatory system of the mammalian subject.

29. The optical sensor device of claim 1, wherein said processing unit is operative to generate output indicative of said a concentration within a blood vessel of said mammalian subject.

30. The optical sensor device of claim 1 wherein said processing unit is operative to generate output indicative of a said local concentration within a capillary of said mammalian subject.

31. The optical sensor device of claim 1, wherein said substance is dissolved or partially dissolved substance within a bodily fluid within the mammalian subject.

32. The optical sensor device of claim 1, wherein said dissolved or partially dissolved substance is an ion.

33. The optical sensor device of claim 1, wherein said processing unit is operative to generate output indicative of pH.

34. The optical sensor device of claim 1, wherein said substance is a number of red cells in a cubic millimeter.

35. The optical sensor device of claim 1, wherein said processing unit is configured to provide skin risk diagnostic.

36. The optical sensor device of claim 1, wherein said skin risk diagnostic is a skin tissue biophysical diagnostic of pigments over and under the skin surface for suggesting pigment treatment.

37. The optical sensor device of claim 1, wherein said skin diagnostic is a temporarily risk factor for exposing the skin to a light and heat such as direct and/or non direct sun rays for suggesting appropriate sun protection.

38. The optical sensor device of claim 1 wherein said concentration of said substance is a chemical concentration.

39. The optical sensor device of claim 1, wherein said substance is a waste product.

40. The optical sensor device of claim 1, wherein said substance is a polymer.

41. The optical sensor device of claim 1, wherein said substance is a complexed polymer.

42. The optical sensor device of claim 1, wherein said substance is a biopolymer.

43. The optical sensor device of claim 1, wherein said substance is a protein.

44. The optical sensor device of claim 43, wherein said protein is a fibrous protein.

45. The optical sensor device of claim 43, wherein said protein is a structural protein.

46. The optical sensor device of claim 43, wherein said protein is a proline-rich protein.

47. The optical sensor device of claim 43, wherein said protein has a coiled-coil region.

48. The optical sensor device of claim 43, wherein said protein is present in appreciable quantities in the skin.

49. The optical sensor device of any of claims 43-48, wherein said substance is a collagen.

50. The optical sensor device of any of claims 1, wherein said substance is a complexed protein.

51. The optical sensor device of claim 50, wherein said complexed protein is selected from the group consisting of a hemoglobin-oxygen complex and a hemoglobin-carbon dioxide complex.

52. The optical sensor device of claim 1 wherein said substance is a saccharide.

53. The optical sensor device of claim 52 wherein said saccharide is glucose.

54. The optical sensor device of claim 1 wherein said local concentration of said substance is indicative of a physiological condition in the subject selected from the group consisting of a condition of the liver, a condition of the kidney cancer, a skin cancer, a blood cancer, a nutritional deficiency, a loss of blood, a malignant condition of bone marrow, dehydration, a cardiovascular condition, hepatitis, a physiological condition of a muscle, a presence of a microbe, a presence of an infectious microbe, an autoimmune condition, a presence of a fungus, and a pulmonary condition.

55. The optical sensor device of claim 1 wherein said sensor device includes an image sensor.

56. The optical sensor device of claim 55 wherein said image sensor is selected from the group consisting of a CMOS image sensor and a CCD image sensor.

57. The optical sensor device of claim 55 wherein said image sensor is selected from the group consisting of a thermal sensor, an IR sensor, a visible light sensor, and a UV sensor.

58. The optical sensor device of claim 1 wherein said array of photodetectors is configured to sense light of a wavelength between about 280 nm to about 4500 nm.

59. The optical sensor device of claim 1 wherein said array of photodetectors is configured to sense light of a wavelength between about 280 nm to about 3800 nm.

60. The optical sensor device of claim 1 further comprising:

c) a light source for transmitting a spectrum of light to or through said first tissue of said subject.

61. The optical sensor device of claim 60 wherein said light source is selected from the group consisting of a natural light (sun light) or artificial light source for emitting a continuous and/or discontinuous spectrum of light.

62. The optical sensor device of claim 1 wherein said array of photodetectors is configured to detect a continuous or discontinues spectrum of light.

63. The optical sensor device of claim 1 wherein said array of photodetectors is configured to detect a continuous or discontinues spectrum of light reflected or transverse or the combination thereof from or by the object.

64. The optical sensor device of claim 1 further comprising:

c) an alarm device, for indicating when a measured value indicative of said at least one said concentration deviates from an expected value of said local concentration.

65. The device of claim 1 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

66. The device of claim 1 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

67. The device of claim 1 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

68. The device of claim 67 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

69. The device of claim 1 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

70. The device of claim 1 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

71. The device of claim 1 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

72. The device of claim 67 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

76. The device of claim 1 wherein said processing unit is adapted to generate output indicative of a concentration of a substance having a characteristic dimension that is greater than 0.1 micron and less than 20 microns.

77. The device of claim 76 wherein said processing unit is adapted to generate output indicative of a concentration of a substance having a characteristic dimension that is greater than 1 micron and less than 20 microns.

78. The device of claim 77 wherein said processing unit is adapted to generate output indicative of a concentration of a substance having a characteristic dimension that is greater than 1 micron and less than 10 microns.

79. The device of claim 1 wherein said processing unit is adapted to generate output indicative of a concentration of at least one type of cell.

80. The device of claim 1 wherein said processing unit is adapted to generate output indicative of a concentration of at least one type of blood cell

81. The device of claim 1 wherein said processing unit is adapted to generate output indicative of a concentration of a red blood cell

73. An image processing device for obtaining a chemical concentration in or on a mammalian subject said image processing device comprising:

a. an image receiving unit for receiving a still or video electronic image of a first tissue of the mammalian subject; and

b. an image processing unit for electronically processing said image and generating output indicative of a concentration of a substance within or on the mammalian subject.

74. The device of claim 73 wherein said mammalian subject is a human subject.

75. The device of claim 73 wherein said concentration of a substance is selected from the group consisting of a concentration of a molecule and a chemical saturation.

82. The device of claim 73 wherein said concentration of a substance is a local concentration.

83. The image processing device of claim 73 wherein said image receiving unit includes a non-volatile memory device.

84. The image processing device of claim 73 wherein said image receiving unit is configured to receive said electronic image from a non-volatile memory device.

85. The image processing device of claim 73, wherein said processing unit is operative to generate output indicative of said local concentration of said substance within a second tissue of the mammalian subject.

86. The device of claim 73 wherein said tissue selected from the group consisting of a first tissue and a second tissue is selected from the group consisting of soft tissue, hard tissue, skin, surface tissue, outer tissue, internal tissue, a membrane, fetal tissue and endothelial tissue.

87. The image processing device of claim 73 wherein said processing unit is configured to generate output indicative a parameter selected from the group consisting of a glucose level, a pH level, a CO2 level, an oxygen level, an oxygen saturation level, red cells concentration, a CO2 saturation level, a bilirubin level, a skin saturation level, a concentration or saturation of salt, a concentration of an oily substance, and a urea nitrogen level.

88. The image processing device of claim 73, wherein said processing unit is operative to generate output indicative of a said concentration within bodily fluid of the mammalian subject.

89. The image processing device of claim 73 wherein said bodily fluid is selected from the group consisting of blood and sweat.

90. The image processing device of claim 73, wherein said processing unit is operative to generate output indicative of a said concentration within a circulatory system of the mammalian subject.

91. The image processing device of claim 73, wherein said processing unit is operative to generate output indicative of said a concentration within a blood vessel of said mammalian subject.

92. The image processing device of claim 73 wherein said processing unit is operative to generate output indicative of a said local concentration within a capillary of said mammalian subject.

93. The image processing device of claim 73, wherein said substance is dissolved or partially dissolved substance within a bodily fluid within the mammalian subject.

94. The image processing device of claim 73, wherein said dissolved or partially dissolved substance is an ion.

95. The image processing device of claim 73, wherein said processing unit is operative to generate output indicative of pH.

96. The image processing device of claim 73, wherein said substance is a pigment.

97. The image processing device of claim 73, wherein said substance is a waste product.

98. The image processing device of claim 73, wherein said substance is a polymer.

99. The image processing device of claim 73, wherein said substance is a complexed polymer.

100. The image processing device of claim 73, wherein said substance is a biopolymer.

101. The image processing device of claim 73, wherein said substance is a protein.

102. The image processing device of claim 73, wherein said substance is a complexed protein.

103. The image processing device of claim 102, wherein said complexed protein is selected from the group consisting of a hemoglobin-oxygen complex and a hemoglobin-carbon dioxide complex.

104. The image processing device of claim 73 wherein said substance is a saccharide.

105. The image processing device of claim 104 wherein said saccharide is glucose.

106. The image processing device of claim 73 wherein said local concentration of said substance is indicative of a physiological condition in the subject selected from the group consisting of a condition of the liver, a condition of the kidney cancer, a skin cancer, a blood cancer, a nutritional deficiency, a loss of blood, a malignant condition of bone marrow, dehydration, a cardiovascular condition, a physiological condition of a muscle, a presence of a microbe, a presence of an infectious microbe, an autoimmune condition, a presence of a fungus, and a pulmonary condition.

107. The device of claim 73 wherein said electronic image is selected from the group consisting of a thermal image, an IR image, a visible light image, and a UV image.

108. The device of claim 73 further comprising:

c) an alarm device, for indicating when a measured value indicative of said at least one said concentration deviates from an expected value of said local concentration.

109. The image processing device of claim 73 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

110. The image processing device of claim 73 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

111. The image processing device of claim 73 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

112. The image processing device of claim 111 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

113. A computer-readable storage medium containing instruction data for obtaining a chemical concentration in or on a mammalian subject the instruction data comprising the instructions of:

a. processing a still or video electronic image of a first tissue of the mammalian subject; and

b. generating from said processed image output indicative of concentration of a substance within or on the mammalian subject.

114. The medium of claim 113 wherein said mammalian subject is a human subject.

115. The medium of claim 113 wherein said chemical concentration is selected from the group consisting of a concentration of a molecule and a chemical saturation.

116. The medium of claim 113 wherein said chemical concentration is a local concentration.

117. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 113 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

118. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 113 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

119. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 113 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

120. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 119 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

121. A method of measuring a chemical concentration in or on a mammalian subject the method comprising:

a. providing a still or video electronic image of a first tissue of the mammalian subject; and

b. electronically processing said image to generate output indicative of a concentration of a substance within or on the mammalian subject.

122. The method of claim 121 wherein said mammalian subject is a human subject.

123. The method of claim 121 wherein said chemical concentration is selected from the group consisting of a concentration of a molecule and a chemical saturation.

124. The method of claim 121 wherein said chemical concentration is a local concentration.

125. The method of claim 121 wherein said processing includes processing said electronic image in a way that is insensitive to the race of the mammalian subject.

126. The method of claim 121 wherein said step of providing includes receiving said image from a non-volatile memory device.

127. The method of claim 121 wherein said step of providing includes obtaining said electronic image from a physical print image.

128. The method of claim 121 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

129. The method of claim 121 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

130. The method of claim 121 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

131. The method of claim 130 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

132. An optical sensor device for detecting a topological structure and chemical concentration in or on a food and environmental item the device comprising:

a. an array of photodetectors, each photodetector configured to detect a spectrum of light, said array for receiving light reflected from and/or traversing a environmental substance and food item selected from the group consisting of environmental substance and chemical markers, topological structure, food tissue, a dairy product, a beverage derived from food tissue, and a consumable alcoholic beverage and for producing an electric signal; and

b. a processing unit adapted to receive and electronically process said electric signal to generate output indicative of a concentration of a substance within or on the environmental substance and chemical markers and food item.

133. The device of claim 132 wherein said chemical concentration is selected from the group consisting of a concentration of a molecule and a chemical saturation.

134. The device of claim 132 wherein said chemical concentration is a local concentration.

135. The device of claim 132 wherein said liquid and gas is all forms of water, alcohol, gasoline, diesel and oil, wherein gas is all forms of gas and air, wherein beverage is a beverage including fruit juice.

136. The device of claim 132 wherein said dairy product is selected from the group consisting of a cheese, milk and a yoghurt.

137. The device of claim 132 wherein said environmental is including food tissue is selected from the group consisting of a fruit, an edible plant, a vegetable, a leafy vegetable, a plant root, a soy product, dead animal tissue, meat, fish and eggs.

138. The device of claim 132 wherein said consumable alcoholic beverage is selected from the group consisting of wine, beer, hard liquor, whiskey, rum, a beverage derived from hops, a malt beverage, and a fermented beverage.

139. The device of claim 132 wherein said concentration is selected from the group consisting of a concentration of anthocyanins, a concentration of an antioxidant, a concentration of a plant pigment, an animal pigment, a concentration of an anti-inflammatory agent, and a concentration of a flavonoid, a concentration of myoglobin, a concentration of metmyoglobin, and a concentration of a protein.

140. The device of claim 132 wherein said food tissue is a perishable item.

141. The device of claim 132 wherein said concentration is indicative of a process selected from the group consisting of a cooking and a spoilage.

142. The device of claim 132 wherein said concentration is indicative of a process selected from the group consisting of a spoilage of meat or fish or eggs, a spoilage of a dairy product, and a cooking of meat or fish or eggs.

143. The device of claim 132 wherein said concentration is indicative of a grape ripeness.

144. The device of claim 132 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

145. The device of claim 132 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

146. The device of claim 132 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

147. The device of claim 146 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

148. An optical sensor device for detecting a chemical concentration in or on a liquid the device comprising:

a. an array of photodetectors, each photodetector configured to detect a spectrum of light, said array for receiving light reflected from and/or traversing a liquid and for producing an electric signal; and

b. a processing unit adapted to receive and electronically process said electric signal to generate output indicative of a concentration of a substance within or on the liquid.

149. The optical sensor device of claim 148 wherein said liquid is an organic liquid.

150. The optical sensor device of claim 148 wherein said liquid is an aqueous solution.

151. The optical sensor device of claim 148 wherein said substance is selected from the group consisting of an organic substance, and a biological substance.

152. The optical sensor device of claim 148 wherein an item selected from the group consisting of the liquid and the substance is derived from a petrochemical.

153. The optical sensor device of claim 148 wherein an item selected from the group consisting of the liquid and the substance is toxic.

154. The device of claim 148 wherein said processing includes generating an electronic image.

155. The device of claim 148 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

156. The device of claim 148 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

157. The device of claim 148 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

158. The device of claim 157 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

159. An image processing device for obtaining a chemical concentration in or on a food item said image processing device comprising:

a. an image receiving unit for receiving a still or video electronic image of a food item selected from the group consisting of food tissue, a dairy product, a beverage derived from food tissue, and a consumable alcoholic beverage; and

b. an image processing unit for electronically processing said image and generating output indicative of a concentration of a substance within or on the food item.

160. The image processing device of claim 159 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

161. The image processing device of claim 159 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

162. The image processing device of claim 159 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

163. The image processing device of claim 162 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

164. An image processing device for obtaining a chemical concentration in or on a liquid said image processing device comprising:

a. an image receiving unit for receiving a still or video electronic image of a liquid; and

b. an image processing unit for electronically processing said image and generating output indicative of a concentration of a substance within or on the liquid.

165. The optical sensor device of claim 164 wherein said liquid is an organic liquid.

166. The optical sensor device of claim 164 wherein said liquid is an aqueous solution.

167. The optical sensor device of claim 164 wherein said substance is selected from the group consisting of an organic substance, and a biological substance.

168. The optical sensor device of claim 164 wherein an item selected from the group consisting of the liquid and the substance is derived from a petrochemical.

169. The optical sensor device of claim 164 wherein an item selected from the group consisting of the liquid and the substance is toxic.

170. The image processing device of claim 164 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

171. The image processing device of claim 164 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

172. The image processing device of claim 164 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

173. The image processing device of claim 172 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

174. A computer-readable storage medium containing instruction data for obtaining a chemical concentration in or on a food item the instruction data comprising the instructions of:

a. processing a still or video electronic image of a food item selected from the group consisting of food tissue, a dairy product, a beverage derived from food tissue, and a consumable alcoholic beverage; and

b. generating from said processed image output indicative of concentration of a substance within or on the food item selected from the group consisting of food tissue, a dairy product, a beverage derived from food tissue, and a consumable alcoholic beverage.

175. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 174 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

176. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 174 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

177. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 174 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

178. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 177 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

179. A computer-readable storage medium containing instruction data for obtaining a chemical concentration in or on a liquid the instruction data comprising the instructions of:

a. processing a still or video electronic image of a liquid; and

b. generating from said processed image output indicative of concentration of a substance within or on the liquid.

180. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 179 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

181. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 179 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

182. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 179 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

183. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 182 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

184. A method of measuring a chemical concentration in or on a food item the method comprising:

a. providing a still or video electronic image of a food item selected from the group consisting of food tissue, a dairy product, a beverage derived from food tissue, and a consumable alcoholic beverage; and

b. electronically processing said image to generate output indicative of a concentration of a substance within or on the food item.

185. The method of claim 184 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

186. The method of claim 184 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

187. The method of claim 184 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

188. The method of claim 187 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

189. A method of measuring a chemical concentration in or on a liquid the method comprising:

a. providing a still or video electronic image of a liquid; and

b. electronically processing said image to generate output indicative of a concentration of a substance within or on the liquid.

190. The method of claim 189 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

191. The method of claim 189 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

192. The method of claim 189 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

193. The method of claim 192 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

194. An optical sensor device for detecting biophysical information about a mammalian subject the device comprising:

a. an array of photodetectors, each photodetector configured to detect a spectrum of light, said array for receiving light reflected from and/or traversing a first tissue of the mammalian subject and for producing an electric signal; and

b. a processing unit adapted to receive and electronically process said electric signal to generate output indicative of a biophysical parameter of the mammalian subject.

195. The device of claim 194 wherein said mammalian subject is a human subject.

196. The device of claim 194 wherein said biophysical parameter is a temporal parameter.

197. The device of claim 194 wherein said biophysical parameter is selected from the group consisting of a heartbeat, a pulse transition time (PTT), stroke volume variation (SVV), vessel deformation and a blood pressure.

198. The device of claim 194 wherein said biophysical parameter is a stroke volume parameter.

199. The device of claim 197 wherein said stroke volume parameter is a selected from the group consisting of an average stroke volume for a plurality of strokes, a stroke volume deviation, and a higher order moment of volumes of strokes.

200. The device of claim 194 wherein said biophysical parameter is a temperature at a location within the subject.

201. The sensor device of claim 194 wherein said biophysical parameter is a temperature fluctuation at a location within the subject.

202. The sensor device of claim 194 wherein said biophysical parameter is a temperature fluctuation on or in the skin of the subject.

203. The sensor device of claim 194 wherein said biophysical parameter is selected from the group consisting of a systolic pressure and a diastolic pressure.

204. The sensor device of claim 194 wherein said biophysical parameter is related to a heartbeat of the mammalian subject.

205. The image processing device of claim 194 wherein said processing unit is configured to generate output indicative a parameter selected from the group consisting of a glucose level, a pH level, a CO2 level, an oxygen level, an oxygen saturation level, red cells concentration, a CO2 saturation level, a bilirubin level, a skin saturation level, a concentration or saturation of salt, a concentration of an oily substance, and a urea nitrogen level.

206. The device of claim 194 wherein said biophysical parameter is indicative of physiological condition selected from the group consisting a physiological condition of the skin, a cardiovascular condition, a pulmonary condition, a physiological condition of an internal organ, a physiological condition of an organ associated with the digestive system, a physiological condition of the kidneys, a physiological condition of the liver, and a physiological condition of the blood.

207. The image processing device of claim 194, wherein said processing unit is operative to generate output indicative of a biophysical parameter of a bodily fluid of the mammalian subject.

208. The image processing device of claim 206 wherein said bodily fluid is selected from the group consisting of blood and sweat.

209. The image processing device of claim 194, wherein said processing unit is operative to generate output indicative of a biophysical parameter of a circulatory system of the mammalian subject.

210. The image processing device of claim 194 wherein said biophysical parameter is indicative of a physiological condition in the subject selected from the group consisting of a condition of the liver, a physiological condition of the skin, a physiological condition of an internal organ, a physiological condition of an organ associated with the digestive system, a condition of the kidney, a physiological condition of the blood, a condition of the liver, a cancer, a skin cancer, a blood cancer, a nutritional deficiency, a loss of blood, a malignant condition of bone marrow, dehydration, a cardiovascular condition, a physiological condition of a muscle, a presence of a microbe, a presence of an infectious microbe, an autoimmune condition, a presence of a fungus, and a pulmonary condition.

211. The device of claim 194 wherein said electronic image is selected from the group consisting of a thermal image, an IR image, a visible light image, and a UV image.

212. The device of claim 194 wherein said biophysical parameter is selected from the group consisting of oil moisture content of skin, skin dryness, skin absorption potential, skin pigmentation, red cells concentration, blood pressure, skin pH, skin saltiness level, a condition related to skin saturation, a condition related to skin vitality, a condition related to sweat, a condition related to skin deformation, a condition related to local skin deformation, and a condition related to skin wrinkles.

213. The device of claim 194 wherein said “

skin absorption potential”

are local levels over different skin areas where the potential to absorb certain substance such as water or moisture is relatively high or low in different skin areas.

214. The device of claim 194 wherein said biophysical parameter is selected from the group consisting of an O2 blood saturation level, a blood glucose level, a blood pH level, Red Cells Concentration, a blood CO2 level, and a blood urea nitrogen level.

216. The optical sensor device of claim 194 wherein said sensor device includes an image sensor.

217. The optical sensor device of claim 216 wherein said image sensor is selected from the group consisting of a CMOS image sensor and a CCD image sensor.

218. The optical sensor device of claim 216 wherein said image sensor is selected from the group consisting of a thermal sensor, an IR sensor, a visible light sensor, and a UV sensor.

219. The optical sensor device of claim 194 wherein said array of photodetectors is configured to sense light of a wavelength between about 280 nm to about 4500 nm.

220. The optical sensor device of claim 194 wherein said array of photodetectors is configured to sense light of a wavelength between about 280 nm to about 3800 nm.

221. The optical sensor device of claim 194 further comprising:

c) a light source for transmitting a spectrum of light to said skin of said subject.

222. The optical sensor device of claim 194 wherein said light source is selected from the group consisting of a natural light source (sun light) or artificial light source for emitting a continuous or discontinuous spectrum of light.

223. The device of claim 194 wherein said biophysical parameter is a malignant physiological condition.

224. The device of claim 194 wherein said biophysical parameter is a biomarker.

225. The optical sensor device of claim 194 wherein said malignant condition is selected from the group consisting of an autoimmune disorder, psoriasis, an allergic condition, an inflammatory condition, a proliferative disorder, a cancer, a melanoma, a presence of an infectious microbe a fungal infection, a cardiovascular condition, a malady of an internal organ.

226. The optical sensor device of claim 194 wherein said malignant condition is selected from the group consisting a condition of an internal organ (for example, kidney, liver, and/or heart, etc) condition of the liver, a condition of the kidney (for example, kidney failure, or a condition that is a precursor to kidney failure), a condition of the heart (for example, heart failure or a condition that is a precursor to heart failure), a pulmonary condition (for example, a breathing condition), cancer, a skin cancer, a blood cancer, a nutritional deficiency, a loss of blood, a malignant condition of bone marrow, dehydration, a cardiovascular condition, a physiological condition of a muscle, a presence of a microbe, and a presence of an infectious microbe.

227. The device of claim 194 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

228. The device of claim 194 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

229. The device of claim 194 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

230. The device of claim 229 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

231. An image processing device for obtaining biophysical information about a mammalian subject said image processing device comprising:

a. an image receiving unit for receiving a still or video electronic image of a first tissue of the mammalian subject; and

b. an image processing unit for electronically processing said image and generating output indicative of a biophysical parameter of the mammalian subject.

215. The device of claim 231 further comprising:

c) an alarm device, for indicating when a measured value indicative of said a biophysical parameter deviates from an expected value of a said biophysical parameter.

232. The device of claim 231 wherein said mammalian subject is a human subject.

233. The device of claim 231 wherein said biophysical parameter is a temporal parameter.

234. The device of claim 231 wherein said biophysical parameter is selected from the group consisting of a heartbeat, a pulse transition time (PTT), stroke volume variation, vessel deformation and a blood pressure.

235. The device of claim 231 wherein said biophysical parameter is a temperature at a location within the subject.

236. The sensor device of claim 231 wherein said biophysical parameter is a temperature fluctuation at a location within the subject.

237. The sensor device of claim 231 wherein said biophysical parameter is a temperature fluctuation on or in the skin of the subject.

238. The image processing device of claim 231 wherein said image receiving unit includes a non-volatile memory device.

239. The image processing device of claim 231 wherein said image receiving unit is configured to receive said electronic image from a non-volatile memory device.

240. The image processing device of claim 231 wherein said processing unit is configured to generate output indicative a parameter selected from the group consisting of a glucose level, a pH level, a CO2 level, an oxygen level, an oxygen saturation level, red cells concentration, a CO2 saturation level, a bilirubin level, a skin saturation level, a concentration or saturation of salt, a concentration of an oily substance, and a urea nitrogen level.

241. The device of claim 231 wherein said biophysical parameter is indicative of physiological condition selected from the group consisting a physiological condition of the skin, a cardiovascular condition, a pulmonary condition, a physiological condition of an internal organ, a physiological condition of an organ associated with the digestive system, a physiological condition of the kidneys, a physiological condition of the liver, and a physiological condition of the blood.

242. The image processing device of claim 231, wherein said processing unit is operative to generate output indicative of a biophysical parameter of a bodily fluid of the mammalian subject.

243. The image processing device of claim 241 wherein said bodily fluid is selected from the group consisting of blood and sweat.

244. The image processing device of claim 231, wherein said processing unit is operative to generate output indicative of a biophysical parameter of a circulatory system of the mammalian subject.

245. The image processing device of claim 231 wherein said biophysical parameter is indicative of a physiological condition in the subject selected from the group consisting of a condition of the liver, a physiological condition of the skin, a physiological condition of an internal organ, a physiological condition of an organ associated with the digestive system, a condition of the kidney, a physiological condition of the blood, a condition of the liver, a cancer, a skin cancer, a blood cancer, a nutritional deficiency, a loss of blood, a malignant condition of bone marrow, dehydration, a cardiovascular condition, a physiological condition of a muscle, a presence of a microbe, a presence of an infectious microbe, an autoimmune condition, a presence of a fungus, and a pulmonary condition.

246. The device of claim 231 wherein said electronic image is selected from the group consisting of a thermal image, an IR image, a visible light image, and a UV image.

247. The device of claim 231 wherein said biophysical parameter is selected from the group consisting of oil moisture content of skin, skin dryness, skin absorption potential, skin pigmentation, red cells concentration, blood pressure, skin pH, skin saltiness level, a condition related to skin saturation, a condition related to skin vitality, a condition related to sweat, and a condition related to skin wrinkles.

248. The device of claim 231 wherein said biophysical parameter is selected from the group consisting of an O2 blood saturation level, a blood glucose level, a blood pH level, Red Cells Concentration, a blood CO2 level, and a blood urea nitrogen level.

249. The device of claim 231 further comprising:

c) an alarm device, for indicating when a measured value indicative of said a biophysical parameter deviates from an expected value of a said biophysical parameter.

250. The sensor device of claim 247 wherein said biophysical parameter is selected from the group consisting of a systolic pressure and a diastolic pressure.

251. The sensor device of claim 247 wherein said biophysical parameter is related to a heartbeat of the mammalian subject.

252. The device of claim 231 wherein said biophysical parameter is a malignant physiological condition.

253. The device of claim 231 wherein said biophysical parameter is a biomarker.

254. The optical sensor device of claim 231 wherein said malignant condition is selected from the group consisting of an autoimmune disorder, psoriasis, an allergic condition, an inflammatory condition, a proliferative disorder, a cancer, a melanoma, a presence of an infectious microbe a fungal infection, a cardiovascular condition, a malady of an internal organ.

255. The image processing device of claim 231 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

256. The image processing device of claim 231 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

257. The image processing device of claim 231 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

258. The image processing device of claim 257 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

275. The device of claim 233 wherein said beverage is a beverage including fruit juice.

259. A computer-readable storage medium containing instruction data for obtaining biophysical information about a mammalian subject the instruction data comprising the instructions of:

a. processing a still or video electronic image of a first tissue of the mammalian subject; and

b. generating from said processed image output indicative of biophysical condition within or on the mammalian subject.

260. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 259 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

261. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 259 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

262. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 259 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

263. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 262 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

264. A method of measuring biophysical information about a mammalian subject the method comprising:

a. providing a still or video electronic image of a first tissue of the mammalian subject; and

b. electronically processing said image to generate output indicative of a biophysical condition of the mammalian subject.

265. The method of claim 264 wherein said mammalian subject is a human subject.

266. The method of claim 264 wherein said processing includes processing said electronic image in a way that is insensitive to the race of the mammalian subject.

267. The method of claim 264 wherein said step of providing includes receiving said image from a non-volatile memory device.

268. The method of claim 264 wherein said step of providing includes obtaining said electronic image from a physical print image.

269. The method of claim 264 wherein said stage of providing includes receiving light within a photodetector within a housing, and said housing is a distance from said first tissue.

270. The method of claim 264 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

271. The method of claim 264 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

272. The method of claim 264 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

273. The method of claim 272 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

274. An optical sensor device for detecting biophysical information about a food item the device comprising:

a. an array of photodetectors, each photodetector configured to detect a spectrum of light, said array for receiving light reflected from and/or traversing a food item selected from the group consisting of food tissue, a dairy product, a beverage derived from food tissue, and a consumable alcoholic beverage and for producing an electric signal; and

b. a processing unit adapted to receive and electronically process said electric signal to generate output indicative of a biophysical parameter of the food item selected from the group consisting of food tissue, a dairy product, a beverage derived from food tissue, and a consumable alcoholic beverage.

276. The device of claim 274 wherein said dairy product is selected from the group consisting of a cheese, milk and a yoghurt.

277. The device of claim 274 wherein said food tissue is selected from the group consisting of a fruit, an edible plant, a vegetable, a leafy vegetable, a plant root, a soy product, dead animal tissue, meat, fish and eggs.

278. The device of claim 274 wherein said consumable alcholoic beverage is selected from the group consisting of wine, beer, hard liquor, whiskey, rum, a beverage derived from hops, a malt beverage, and a fermented beverage.

279. The device of claim 274 wherein said biophysical paramter is selected from the group consisting of a concentration of anthocyanins, a concentration of an antioxidant, a concentration of a plant pigment, an animal pigment, a concentration of an anti-inflammatory agent, and a concentration of a flavonoid, a concentration of myoglobin, a concentration of metmyoglobin, and a concentration of a protein.

280. The device of claim 274 wherein said food tissue is a perishable item.

281. The device of claim 274 wherein said biophysical parameter is indicative of a process selected from the group consisting of a cooking and a spoilage.

282. The device of claim 274 wherein said biophysical parameter is indicative of a process selected from the group consisting of a spoilage of meat or fish or eggs, a spoilage of a dairy product, and a cooking of meat or fish or eggs.

283. The device of claim 274 wherein said biophysical parameter is indicative of a grape ripeness.

284. The device of claim 274 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

285. The device of claim 274 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

286. The device of claim 274 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

287. The device of claim 286 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

288. An optical sensor device for detecting biophysical information about a liquid the device comprising:

a. an array of photodetectors, each photodetector configured to detect a spectrum of light, said array for receiving light reflected from and/or traversing a liquid and for producing an electric signal; and

b. a processing unit adapted to receive and electronically process said electric signal to generate output indicative of a biophysical condition of the liquid.

289. The device of claim 288 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

290. The device of claim 288 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

291. The device of claim 288 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

292. The device of claim 291 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

293. An image processing device for obtaining biophysical information about a food item said image processing device comprising:

a. an image receiving unit for receiving a still or video electronic image of a food item selected from the group consisting of food tissue, a dairy product, a beverage derived from food tissue, and a consumable alcoholic beverage; and

b. an image processing unit for electronically processing said image and generating output indicative of a biophysical condition of the food item selected from the group consisting of food tissue, a dairy product, a beverage derived from food tissue, and a consumable alcoholic beverage.

294. The image processing device of claim 293 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

295. The image processing device of claim 293 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

296. The image processing device of claim 293 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

297. The image processing device of claim 296 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

298. An image processing device for obtaining biophysical information about a liquid said image processing device comprising:

a. an image receiving unit for receiving a still or video electronic image of a liquid; and

b. an image processing unit for electronically processing said image and generating output indicative of a biophysical condition of the liquid.

299. The image processing device of claim 298 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

300. The image processing device of claim 298 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

301. The image processing device of claim 298 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

302. The image processing device of claim 301 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

303. A computer-readable storage medium containing instruction data for obtaining biophysical information about a food item the instruction data comprising the instructions of:

a. processing a still or video electronic image of a food item selected from the group consisting of food tissue, a dairy product, a beverage derived from food tissue, and a consumable alcoholic beverage; and

b. generating from said processed image output indicative of biophysical condition within or on the food item selected from the group consisting of food tissue, a dairy product, a beverage derived from food tissue, and a consumable alcoholic beverage.

304. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 303 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

305. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 303 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

306. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 303 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

307. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 306 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

308. A computer-readable storage medium containing instruction data for obtaining biophysical information about a liquid the instruction data comprising the instructions of:

a. processing a still or video electronic image of a liquid; and

b. generating from said processed image output indicative of biophysical condition within or on the liquid.

309. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 308 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

310. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 308 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

311. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 308 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

312. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 311 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

313. A method of measuring biophysical information about a food item the method comprising:

a. providing a still or video electronic image of a food item selected from the group consisting of food tissue, a dairy product, a beverage derived from food tissue, and a consumable alcoholic beverage; and

b. electronically processing said image to generate output indicative of a biophysical condition of the food item selected from the group consisting of food tissue, a dairy product, a beverage derived from food tissue, and a consumable alcoholic beverage.

314. The method of claim 313 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

315. The method of claim 313 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

316. The method of claim 313 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

317. The method of claim 316 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

318. A method of measuring biophysical information about a liquid the method comprising:

a. providing a still or video electronic image of a liquid; and

b. electronically processing said image to generate output indicative of a biophysical condition of the liquid.

319. The method of claim 318 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

320. The method of claim 318 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

321. The method of claim 318 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

322. The method of claim 321 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

323. An optical sensor device for detecting physiological information about a mammalian subject the device comprising:

a. an array of photodetectors, each photodetector configured to detect a spectrum of light, said array for receiving light reflected from and/or traversing a first tissue of the mammalian subject and for producing an electric signal; and

b. a processing unit adapted to receive and electronically process said electric signal to generate output indicative of a physiological condition of the mammalian subject.

324. The device of claim 323 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

325. The device of claim 323 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

326. The device of claim 323 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

327. The device of claim 326 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

328. An image processing device for obtaining physiological information about a mammalian subject said image processing device comprising:

a. an image receiving unit for receiving a still or video electronic image of a first tissue of the mammalian subject; and

b. an image processing unit for electronically processing said image and generating output indicative of a physiological condition of the mammalian subject.

329. The image processing device of claim 328 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

330. The image processing device of claim 328 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

331. The image processing device of claim 328 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

332. The image processing device of claim 331 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

333. A computer-readable storage medium containing instruction data for obtaining physiological information about a mammalian subject the instruction data comprising the instructions of:

a. processing a still or video electronic image of a first tissue of the mammalian subject; and

b. generating from said processed image output indicative of physiological condition within or on the mammalian subject.

334. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 333 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

335. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 333 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

336. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 333 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

337. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 336 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

338. A method of measuring physiological information about a mammalian subject the method comprising:

a. providing a still or video electronic image of a first tissue of the mammalian subject; and

b. electronically processing said image to generate output indicative of a physiological condition of the mammalian subject.

339. The method of claim 338 wherein said mammalian subject is a human subject.

340. The method of claim 338 wherein said processing includes processing said electronic image in a way that is insensitive to the race of the mammalian subject.

341. The method of claim 338 wherein said step of providing includes receiving said image from a non-volatile memory device.

342. The method of claim 338 wherein said step of providing includes obtaining said electronic image from a physical print image.

343. The method of claim 338 wherein said stage of providing includes receiving light within a photodetector within a housing, and said housing is a distance from said first tissue.

344. The method of claim 338 wherein said processing includes computing a parameter to adjust for ambient light.

345. The method of claim 338 wherein said processing includes effecting a process selected from the group consisting of effecting a color coordinate transformation and effecting a noise reduction.

346. The method of claim 338 wherein said processing includes computing a solution vector to a set of linear or non-linear equations, wherein said equations are selected from the group consisting of algebraic or functional equations, differential equations and partial differential equations.

347. The method of claim 346 wherein said processing includes computing from said solution vector a desired parameter, wherein said computation of said desired parameter includes at least one process selected from the group consisting of computing a correlation, computing a cross correlation, computing an auto correlation, effecting a noise reduction, effecting functional ratio computation, computing and accessing look-up tables, effecting spatial and temporal derivative operation and effecting an iterative computation.

348. A method of obtaining physiological information about a mammalian subject, the method comprising:

a. providing an array of photodetectors within a housing;

b. receiving light reflected from and/or traversing soft tissue of the subject into said array of photodetectors to produce an electrical signal wherein said housing is disposed at a distance from said subject; and

c. processing said electrical signal to generate an output indicative of a parameter selected from the group consisting of a concentration of a substance and a biophysical parameter of the subject.

349. A polygraph device for determining a stage of agitation of a subject comprising:

a. an image receiving unit for receiving a series of video digital images of a subject over a period of time;

b. an image processing unit for generating from said video digital images output indicative of a physiological condition of the subject over said period of time; and

c. a physiological condition variation detection module, for examining said output and determining if physiological condition variation is indicative that the subject is in a state of agitation.

350. A polygraph device for determining a stage of agitation of a subject comprising:

a. an image receiving unit for receiving a video digital image of a subject;

b. an image processing unit for generating from said video digital image output indicative of a physiological condition of the subject; and

c. a physiological condition comparison module, for determining when said output indicative of said physiological condition deviates from a value associated with a relaxed person.

351. A device for determining a cosmetic regimen of treatment, the device comprising:

a. an image receiving unit for receiving a video digital image of a subject;

b. an image processing unit for generating from said video digital image output indicative of a physiological condition of the skin of said subject; and

c. a treatment output module for receiving said generated output and generating output descriptive of a cosmetic regimen for improving said physiological condition of said skin of said subject.

352. The device of claim 351 wherein said physiological condition is selected from the group consisting of a skin pH, a skin moisture and a skin dryness.

353. A device for detecting a pH of wine, the device comprising:

i. an image receiving unit for receiving a video image of wine;

ii. an image processing unit for processing said video digital images and generating output indicative of a pH of said wine.

354. The device of claim 353 wherein said video image is a video image of wine within a vessel.

355. The device of claim 354 wherein said vessel is sealed.

356. The device of claim 353 wherein said vessel is transparent, and said processing includes processing the video image in a way that is insensitive to the presence of said vessel.

357. A method of determining of a life status of a mammalian subject the method comprising:

a. obtaining a still or video electronic image of the subject;

b. electronically processing said image to generate output indicative of a life parameter selected from the group consisting of a biophysical parameter and a concentration of a substance within or on the mammalian subject;

c. deducing the life status from said output.

358. The method of claim 357 wherein said life status is selected from the group consisting of whether the mammalian subject is alive or dead and a time of death.

359. A device for determining of a life status of a mammalian subject the device comprising:

a. an image receiving unit for receiving a still or video electronic image of a first tissue of the mammalian subject;

b. an image processing unit for electronically processing said image and generating output indicative of a life parameter selected from the group consisting of a concentration of a substance within or on the mammalian subject and a biophysical parameter; and

c. a life status unit for determining the life status from said output.

360. The method of claim 359 wherein said life status is selected from the group consisting of whether the mammalian subject is alive or dead and a time of death.

361. An optical sensor device for detecting a concentration of at least one substance in or on a mammalian subject the device comprising:

a. an array of photodetectors for receiving light reflected from and/or traversing a tissue of the mammalian subject and for producing an electric signal; and

b. a processing unit adapted to receive and electronically process said electric signal to generate output indicative of at least one of a concentration and a concentration profile of at least one substance within or on the mammalian subject or a region thereof.

362. The device of claim 361 wherein said substance is other than a oxygen-containing gas.

363. The device of claim 361 wherein said substance is other than a gas dissolved in the blood.

364. A method for detecting a concentration of at least one substance in or on a mammalian subject the device comprising:

a. detecting light reflected from and/or traversing a tissue of the mammalian subject to produce an electric signal;

b. electronically processing said electric signal to generate output indicative of at least one of a concentration and a concentration profile of at least one substance within or on the mammalian subject or a region thereof.

365. The method of claim 364 wherein said substance is other than a oxygen-containing gas.

366. The device of claim 364 wherein said substance is other than a gas dissolved in the blood.

367. The method of claim 364 wherein said substance is a collagen.

368. A method for measuring efficacy of a medical treatment procedure of soft tissue, the method comprising:

a. subjecting the patient to the medical treatment procecdure at least once;

b. after each said medical procedure, measuring at least one of a concentration and a concentration profile of at least one substance on, in or below a surface of the soft-tissue by generating an electrical signal in accordance with detected light reflected from and/or traversing a tissue of the mammalian subject to produce an electric signal;

c. deriving from at least one respective said measured concentration or concentration profile a parameter indicative of the efficacy of said medical treatment procedure.

369. The method of claim 368 wherein said substance is collagen.

370. The method of claim 368 wherein said patient is subjected to said medical treatment a plurality of times to produce a plurality of respective measurements, and said parameter indicative of said efficacy is derived from said plurality of respective measurements.

371. The method of claim 369 wherein said deriving of said parameter indicative of the efficacy includes computing a trend function of said respective measurements.

372. The method of claim 369 wherein each of said plurality of times are separated by at least one hour.

373. An optical sensor device for detecting a concentration and/or a concentration profile of a collagen in at a location or region of a soft tissue of mammalian subject the device comprising:

a. an array of photodetectors for receiving light reflected from and/or traversing the soft tissue of the mammalian subject and for producing an electric signal; and

b. a processing unit adapted to receive and electronically process said electric signal to generate output indicative of at least one of a concentration and a concentration profile of the collagen at or in the location or region of the soft tissue of the mammalian subject.

374. A method of measuring a chemical concentration in or on a substance the method comprising:

a. providing a still or video electronic image of a liquid; and

b. electronically processing said image to generate output indicative of a concentration of a substance within or on the substance.

375. The method of claim 374 wherein said substance is selected form the group consisting of a liquid, a gas, a solid and a mixture of any combination thereof.

376. The method of claim 374 wherein said substance is selected form the group consisting of water, Sea water, river water, lake water, and drinking water.

377. The method of claim 374 wherein said substance is selected form the group consisting of as metal, wood, gold, and silver.

378. The method of claim 374 wherein said chemical concentration is a concentration of environmental substance chemical markers.

379. A method for detecting a chemical concentration in or on a substance the method comprising:

a. detecting light reflected from and/or traversing a tissue of substance to produce an electric signal;

b. electronically processing said electric signal to generate output indicative of at least one of a chemical concentration and a chemical concentration profile in or on the substance.