Confocal imaging through thick dermal tissue
US5788639A · kind A · utility
77Cited by
9References
35Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 20, 1996 |
| Grant date | Aug 4, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 20, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2562/146
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A handheld confocal imaging system for in vivo observation of dermal and subdermal tissue allows diagnosis of conditions substantially beneath the surface of the skin. A confocal head has optics which scan the tissue so as to provide images of vertical sections of the tissue. Both two and three dimensional imaging may be provided for diagnosis and location of basal cell carcinomas and melanomas, and so as to enable visualization of tumor borders prior to excision.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.