Handheld skin measuring or monitoring device
Inventors
Fright, William Richard • Robinson, Brent Stephen • Goodwin, Shane Robert • McCallum, Bruce Clinton • Barclay, Philip John
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-12551109-B2
Publication Date
2026-02-17
Expiration Date
Abstract
A handheld skin monitoring or measuring device includes a camera having a camera optical axis; and a structured light arrangement configured to project three or more laser fan beams such that the laser fan beams cross at a crossing point in front of the camera.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a handheld display-less skin measurement and monitoring device that uses a camera fixed relative to a structured-light projector. The projector projects three or more laser fan beams crossing at an in-front crossing point, and the crossing point position and fan-beam geometry provide a predetermined pattern that a user uses to place the device within an optimum measurement range and to frame an image capture region.
The device uses fixed camera/projector hardware and illumination to capture structured light images of a wound or skin surface feature. A capture sequence includes capturing an image with the laser fan beams switched off, an image with all beams on, and disambiguation images with subsets of beams so that the fan beams are unambiguously identifiable. The structured-light capture is described as rapid, under 1 second.
Structured light data is used to model wound or skin surfaces and determine wound properties such as wound area, depth, and volume. The document further describes potential tracking over time and centralized data storage and alerts related to the captured wound or skin measurements.
Claims Coverage
The provided independent claims cover two main inventive capture approaches for an anatomical surface feature on skin, with a total of two independent claims. Across the independent claims, the core inventive features are fixed camera/projector relation with a multi-fan-beam crossing light pattern, alignment so the crossing point falls on or near the skin surface, and capturing data for subsequent structured-light-based determination of wound or skin properties and/or defining a desired image region corresponding to the camera frame.
Fixed camera-projector relation with a crossing fan-beam light pattern
Projecting a light pattern onto the skin surface via a fan beam projector arrangement mounted in fixed relation to the camera, wherein the light pattern is formed by three or more fan beams that cross at a crossing point.
Crossing point alignment to the skin surface
Adjusting a position of the camera and the fan beam projector arrangement such that the crossing point falls on or near the skin surface.
Capturing data with the camera
Directing a camera having a camera optical axis toward the skin surface and capturing data via the camera.
Pattern-defined image region corresponding to the camera frame
Projecting a light pattern onto the skin surface via the light pattern arrangement, wherein the light pattern is arranged to define a region that substantially corresponds to an image frame of the camera, and wherein the light pattern includes a plurality of fan beams.
Desired image region alignment using the light pattern
Adjusting a position of the light pattern arrangement such that the light pattern defines a desired image region on the skin surface.
Capturing data using the camera
Capturing data using the camera.
Across the independent claims, the inventive scope is centered on fixed relative positioning between camera and a fan-beam projector that projects a multi-fan-beam light pattern with a crossing point, alignment such that the crossing point or the pattern-defined region falls on or near the skin to define a desired image region, and capturing camera data for structured-light-based analysis of an anatomical surface feature.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
Interested in licensing this patent?