Apparatus for inspecting allergic reaction

• US 7,351,209 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2003
• Issued: 04/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kyushu Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: Kyushu Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Fujii, Hitoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg; Max F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen; H. Q.
• Application Number:
  US10/654,325
• Publication Number:
  US 20040176701A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,673 Days
• Field of Search: 600/362, 600/556
• US Class Current: 600/556
• 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 5/0261 using optical means, e.g. infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/445 Evaluating skin irritation or skin trauma, e.g. rash, eczema, wound, bed sore

Abstract

An apparatus for inspecting an allergic reaction projects laser light onto an object having a bloodstreams and receives, using a light sensor, light rays scattered by blood cells at the surface of the object. Based on signals output from the light sensor, the apparatus calculates respective relative values of the bloodstreams at a portion of the object subjected to an allergic reaction test, wherein the relative values are relative to an average value of the bloodstreams measured at a portion of the object other than the portion subjected to the allergic reaction test which is not affected by the allergic reaction test. The apparatus displays the obtained relative values.

Claims

1. An apparatus for inspecting an allergic reaction comprising:

light-projecting means for projecting a laser light onto an object having a plurality of bloodstreams and into an area including a portion subjected to an allergic reaction test;

light-receiving means for receiving light rays scattered by blood cells at a plurality of points at a surface of the object;

memory means for storing output signals from the light-receiving means;

calculating means for calculating, based on the output signals stored in the memory means, respective relative values of the bloodstreams at the portion of the object subjected to the allergic reaction test, said relative values being relative to an average value of the bloodstreams measured at a portion of the object other than the portion subjected to the allergic reaction test which is not affected by the allergic reaction test; and

display means for displaying the relative values obtained by the calculating means;

wherein the calculating means is arranged to;

calculate an average bloodstream value Bv₁ of the entire area of the object onto which the laser light is projected;

identify a region, of the area of the object onto which the laser light is projected, at which a bloodstream value is higher than the average bloodstream value Bv₁;

calculate an average bloodstream value Bv₂ measured at the identified region at which the bloodstream value is higher than the average value Bv₁;

calculate an average bloodstream value Bv₃ measured at a region, of the area of the object onto which the laser light is projected, other than the region at which a bloodstream value is higher than the average value Bv₁; and

divide the average bloodstream value Bv₂ by the average bloodstream value Bv₃ to calculate a degree of the allergic reaction;

wherein the display means is arranged to further display the calculated degree of the allergic reaction at least as a numerical value; and

wherein the allergic reaction test is a patch test.

2. A method of inspecting an allergic reaction comprising:

projecting a laser light onto an object having a plurality of bloodstreams and into an area including a portion subjected to an allergic reaction test;

receiving, by a light sensor, light rays scattered by blood cells at a plurality of points at a surface of the object;

storing output signals from the light sensor;

calculating, based on the stored output signals, respective relative values of the bloodstreams at the portion of the object subjected to the allergic reaction test, said relative values being relative to an average value of the bloodstreams measured at a portion of the object other than the portion subjected to the allergic reaction test which is not affected by the allergic reaction test; and

displaying the calculated relative values;

wherein the calculating comprises;

calculating an average bloodstream value Bv₁ at the entire area of the object onto which laser light is projected;

identifying a region, of the area of the object onto which laser light is projected, at which a bloodstream value is higher than the average bloodstream value Bv₁;

calculating an average bloodstream value Bv₂ measured at the region at which the bloodstream value is higher than the average value Bv₁;

calculating an average bloodstream value Bv₃ measured at a region, of the area of the object onto which laser light is projected, other than the region at which a bloodstream value is higher than the average value Bv₁; and

dividing the average bloodstream value Bv₂ by the average bloodstream value Bv₃ to calculate a degree of the allergic reaction;

wherein the displaying comprises displaying the degree of the allergic reaction at least as a numerical value; and

wherein the allergic reaction test is a patch test.