Method for evaluation of erythema utilizing skin reflectance measurements

• US 4,423,736 A
• Filed: 10/13/1981
• Issued: 01/03/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Research Corporation Ste 853 25 Broadway NY A Corporation of
• Original Assignee: Purdue Research Foundation (The Trustees of Purdue University (d/b/a Purdue University))
• Inventors: DeWitt, David P., Robinson, Barrett F., Hannemann, Robert E., Hanley, Edward J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Howell, Kyle L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hanley, John C.
• Application Number:
  US06/310,474
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 128/633, 128/637, 128/653, 128/743
• US Class Current: 600/306
• 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 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/443 Evaluating skin constituents, e.g. elastin, melanin, water
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/445 Evaluating skin irritation or skin trauma, e.g. rash, eczema, wound, bed sore
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/55 Specular reflectivity

Abstract

A method is disclosed for evaluating erythema utilizing skin reflection measurements. By collecting and analyzing data representative of both normal and erythematous skin utilizing reflectance spectra within a range of 400 to 700 nm, distinctive spectral features of erythema have been identified. A relationship representing a function of normal and erythematous skin reflectance at three specific wavelengths (500 nm, 550 nm, and 595 nm) was developed to provide an absolute measure of the vascular response of the skin, which measure is independent of pigmentation characteristics of the skin and takes into consideration normal fluctuations in skin color. By varying the exposure of the skin to radiation from a predetermined source and then measuring the reflectance of the skin at particular time periods and at a plurality (preferably three) of different wavelengths, the relative changes in superficial blood volume due to erythema are isolated. The method is thus useful for monitoring dosage dependence and time response of erythema, and is particularly well suited, for example, for determining sensitivity of skin to ultraviolet radiation, evaluation of sun screening agents and/or screening of individuals for susceptibility to irritation and/or irritants.

Claims

1. A method for determining erythema, said method comprising:

establishing a predetermined physiologic measure based upon blood content with respect to a patient;

exposing the skin of said patient to radiation and collecting said radiation reflected from said skin;

utilizing said collected radiation to provide an indication of skin reflectance measure; and

relating said indication of skin reflectance measure to said predetermined physiologic measure to thereby provide an indication of the extent of erythema with respect to the skin of said patient.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of establishing a predetermined physiologic measure includes providing an absolute scale and wherein said step of relating said indication of skin reflectance measure to said predetermined physiologic measure includes utilizing said absolute scale to relate said predetermined physiologic measure to said indication of skin reflectance measure.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of exposing the skin of said patient to radiation and collecting said radiation reflected from said skin includes exposing the skin of said patient to radiation at a plurality of predetermined wavelengths and utilizing the collected radiation at each of said plurality of wavelengths to provide said indication of skin reflectance measure.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said step of exposing the skin of said patient to radiation at a plurality of predetermined wavelengths includes exposing the skin of said patient to radiation at a minimum of three different wavelengths.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said step of exposing the skin of a patient to radiation at a minimum of three different wavelengths includes exposing the skin of said patient to radiation at about 500 nm, 550 nm, and 595 nm.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said method includes directing said radiation to a reference standard to thereby collect radiation reflected from said reference standard as well as from said exposure of the skin of said patient to said radiation so as to provide an absolute erythema measure.

7. A method for definitive evaluation of erythema by multi-spectral skin reflectance analysis, said method comprising:

establishing an absolute physiologic measure based upon blood content with respect to a patient and forming output signals representative thereof;

directing radiation at a predetermined plurality of wavelengths at the skin of a patient;

collecting said radiation reflected from the skin of said patient at said predetermined wavelengths and providing therefrom output signals indicative of the reflectance of said skin; and

relating said output signals from said collected radiation to said output signals representative of said established absolute physiologic measure to thereby form an evaluation of erythema then present at the skin of said patient.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said step of directing radiation at a predetermined plurality of wavelengths at the skin of a patient includes directing radiation at at least three different wavelengths at the skin of a patient, and wherein said step of collecting radiation includes collecting said radiation reflected from the skin of said patient at said three different wavelengths.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said step of directing radiation at at least three different wavelengths at the skin of a patient includes directing radiation at 500 nm, 550 nm, and 595 nm at the skin of a patient, and wherein said step of collecting radiation includes collecting said radiation from said patient at said three wavelengths.

10. A method for evaluation of erythema present at the skin of a patient, said method comprising:

establishing a relationship between skin reflectance and skin absorption and scattering properties;

measuring skin reflectance of both normal and erythematous skin;

determining from said established relationship and said skin reflectance measurements the blood volume due to erythema; and

utilizing said determination of blood volume to indicate the extent of erythema.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said step of establishing a relationship between skin reflectance and skin absorption and scattering properties includes establishing said relationship between skin reflectance and skin absorption and scattering properties at a plurality of at least three separate wavelengths.

12. A method for determining erythema, said method comprising:

establishing an erythema parameter that is a function of normal and erythematous skin reflectance at 500 nm, 550 nm, and 595 nm;

exposing the skin of a patient to ultraviolet radiation;

collecting ultraviolet radiation reflected from the skin of said patient at wavelengths of 500 nm, 550 nm, and 595 nm; and

relating said collected ultraviolet radiation with said established erythema parameter to derive therefrom the extent of erythema present at the skin of said patient.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said method includes utilizing said determined extent of erythema to determine application of dosage of electromagnetic radiation to the skin of said patient.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein said method includes applying a substance to the skin of said patient prior to collecting of reflected radiation from the skin of said patient and determining therefrom the effectiveness of said substance with respect to erythema.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein said method includes periodically collecting radiation reflected from the skin of said patient and deriving the extent of erythema therefrom to thereby provide treatment data.