Method and apparatus for detecting and measuring conditions affecting color

• US 6,308,088 B1
• Filed: 10/26/1999
• Issued: 10/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Color Data, LLC
• Original Assignee: Chromatics Color Sciences International, Inc.
• Inventors: MacFarlane, David Kenneth, MacFarlane, Darby Simpson, Billmeyer, Fred W. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): WINAKUR, ERIC FRANK
• Application Number:
  US09/427,658
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• Field of Search: 600/310, 600/314, 600/315, 600/322, 600/473, 600/476, 356/405
• US Class Current: 600/310
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0088 for oral or dental tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1032 Determining colour for diagnostic purposes measuring colour in general G01J3/46
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/441 Skin evaluation, e.g. for skin disorder diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/443 Evaluating skin constituents, e.g. elastin, melanin, water
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/448 Hair evaluation, e.g. for hair disorder diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7264 Classification of physiological signals or data, e.g. using neural networks, statistical classifiers, expert systems or fuzzy systems neural networks per se G06N3/00; expert systems per se G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2003/466 Coded colour; Recognition of predetermined colour; Determining proximity to predetermined colour
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/462 Computing operations in or between colour spaces; Colour management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/463 Colour matching
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/465 taking into account the colour perception of the eye; using tristimulus detection
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/50 using electric radiation detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/52 using colour charts
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/524 Calibration of colorimeters

Abstract

A method and apparatus for determining the condition of a test subject based on color uses a color measuring instrument to detect change in a color factor indicative of a condition such as a disease, spoilage, ageing, etc. A medical condition such as bilirubinemia that affects skin color can be detected. One measures color factors such as Hunter b and L in the subjects'"'"' skin color. For predetermined ranges of one color factor, in particular L, changes in the other color factor, e.g. Hunter b, above predetermined levels are indicative of the medical condition. In many cases, a single measurement of the color factors can be utilized as a warning of the likelihood of the medical or contaminated condition, if the ordinary range of the color factor is known for healthy individuals with skin coloration like that of the test subject. Even if there has been no baseline measurement and the test subject'"'"'s color is such that a single reading of one or two color factors will not warn of the possible presence of the medical condition or contamination, sequential readings can indicate the presence or absence of the condition based upon changes in the measured color factor, or lack of changes. The color measuring techniques apply to a wide range of biological test subjects (e.g. hair, teeth, tissue, excretions, foods, soil, animals, plants). Methods and apparatus for determining accurate hair color classifications and appropriate coloring agents to bring about a selected change of color include a table of hair color classifications, a color measuring instrument to arrive at Hunter L, a and b for use in identifying a particular classification from the table and a database that identifies appropriate coloring agents based on a selection of coloring actions from a menu and the classifications of hair color.

Claims

1. A process of detecting a condition in a test subject, which condition includes a symptomtic, detectable change in the test subject'"'"'s coloration;

the process comprising;

(a) establishing a plurality of coloration classes that include a first class of skin coloration having values of color factor Hunter L at or below a predetermined value and a second class of skin coloration having values of color factor Hunter L above said predetermined value, wherein a first predeterminded increase over time in the value of color factor Hunter b for skin coloration of the first class is indicative of the possible onset of hyperbilirubinemia, and wherein a second predetermined increase over time in the value of color factor Hunter b for skin coloration of the second class is indicative of the possible onset of hyperbilirubinemia;

(b) at a first point in time, measuring with a color measuring instrument a value of color factor Hunter b in the test subjects skin coloration,

(c) waiting an interval;

(d) at least at one further point in time, measuring with the color instrument a value of color factor Hunter b in the test subject'"'"'s skin coloration;

(e) at said first point in time and said at least one further point in time measuring with the color measuring instrument values of color factor Hunter L in the test subject'"'"'s skin coloration; and

(f) comparing the values of color factor Hunter b measured at said first point in time and at said at least one further point in time to determine whether there has been exhibited a change therein of a magnitude evidencing the possible onset of said condition for the particular coloration class of the test subject.

2. The process of claim 1, further comprising:

(g) comparing the values of color factor Hunter L measured at said first point in time and at said at least one further point in time to determine whether there has been exhibited a change therein greater than a predetermined magnitude; and

(h) terminating said process if the change in the value of color factor Hunter L determined in step (g) is greater than said predetermined magnitude.

3. The process of claim 2, wherein said predetermined magnitude of change in the value of color factor Hunter L is 3 points.

4. The process of claim 2, wherein said predetermined magnitude of change in the value of color factor Hunter L is within the range of 3 to 5 points.

5. The process of claim 2, further comprising:

(i) at said first point in time and at said at least one further point in time, measuring with the color measuring instrument the values of color factor Hunter a in the test subject'"'"'s skin coloration; and

(j) comparing the values of color factor Hunter a measured at said first point in time and at said at least one further point in time to obtain further information concerning the condition of the test subject.

6. The process of claim 5, further comprising:

(l) prior to step (f), excluding out-of-range measured values of color factor Hunter b;

(m) prior to step (g), excluding out-of-range measured values of color factor Hunter L; and

(n) prior to step (j), excluding out-of-range measured values of color factor Hunter a.

7. The process of claim 6, wherein said out-of-range values are 2>

Hunter b>

40, 20>

Hunter L>

80 and 2>

Hunter a>

50.

8. The process of any one of claims 1, 2 and 5, wherein said measuring steps comprise making multiple measurements of the values of the color factors at each of the respective points in time and removing the color measuring instrument from contact with the subject'"'"'s skin between successive measurements.