Method and apparatus for 3D measurement of the skin surface and near-surface skin layers

US9687154B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• MIKROSKIN GMBH · DE

Inventors

• Mark A. Weber · Maplewood, US
• Juergen Valentin · Duisburg, DE
• Marcus Grigat · Wesel, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 12, 2014
• Grant date: Jun 27, 2017
• Expiry date: May 12, 2034

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06T2207/30088
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for the 3D measurement of the skin surface and near-surface skin layers by means of a confocal sensor with integrated color camera arranged in a handheld device, wherein said handheld device being moved by an operator via a sensor head to the location of the skin to be examined and a color image of the skin surface then being captured, whereupon the sensor being automatically changed over to confocal operation during which an image stack is generated by the simultaneous capturing of a multitude of all pixels necessary to create a complete image, said stack consisting of confocal images extending into the interior of the skin, with the entire area extending axially into the skin interior being scanned layer by layer in Z direction, wherein after capturing the measuring data an evaluation is performed resulting in a 3D image of the topography of the skin to be generated, and, moreover, from the image stack captured sectional images of the skin and skin volume are computed down to a depth of several millimeters and the images so created being displayed on a monitor.