Handheld imaging microscope

Details Handheld imaging microscope Handheld imaging microscope

1997-12-30

2001-07-17

Dvorak, Linda C. M. (Department: 3736)

Surgery

Diagnostic testing

Detecting nuclear, electromagnetic, or ultrasonic radiation

C359S368000, C359S379000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06263233

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to handheld confocal imaging system for in vivo clinical examinations of dermal and subdermal tissues using non-ionizing radiation, and particularly laser radiation which is of a wavelength capable of penetrating into the skin.
The invention is especially suitable for providing an instrument for dermal pathology applications. The invention is also applicable for visualizing sections in other scattering media than tissue. The invention enables the use of a laser as a source of illumination. The instrument may provide data to image processing computers, which may be programmed to provide high resolution images of dermal sections.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Systems have been proposed for viewing the surface areas of the skin or the external surfaces of internal tissue. Viewing without scanning is described in Pennypacker, U.S. Pat. No. 4,817,622, issued Apr. 4, 1989. Examination of internal tissue surfaces by means of beam scanning are proposed in Harris, U.S. Pat. No. 5,120,953, issued Jun. 91 1992, Ohki, U.S. Pat. No. 5,122,653 issued Jun. 16, 1992, Webb, U.S. Pat. No. 4,768,874 issued Sep. 6, 1988 and Pflibsen, U.S. Pat. No. 4,991,953 issued Feb. 12, 1991. Such proposals have not provided a handheld instrument which is readily usable by a surgeon in clinical examinations for imaging the epidermis and dermis, especially in vertical sections or in horizontal sections at desired depths below the surface of the skin.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide and improve clinical dermatological imaging system.
It is another object of the invention to provide an improved confocal imaging system which provides images of dermatological tissues and avoids the need for biopsies to detect the location of such abnormalities as basal cell carcinomas and melanomas.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an improved confocal dermatological imaging system which does not require ionizing radiation and may use a laser beam.
It is a still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved confocal imaging system which provides in vivo imaging of dermatological tissue both at and below the skin and which may be handheld and which is capable of operating in various scattering media.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an improved confocal dermatological imaging system which may use a computer to generate images from data produced by the optics which provides confocal imaging and to display or provide images for further evaluation or computer enhancement.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4768874 (1988-09-01), Webb
patent: 4817622 (1989-04-01), Pennypacker
patent: 4863252 (1989-09-01), McCarthy et al.
patent: 4965441 (1990-10-01), Picard
patent: 4991953 (1991-02-01), Pflibsen
patent: 5048904 (1991-09-01), Montagu
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patent: 5122653 (1992-06-01), Ohki
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patent: 6032071 (2000-02-01), Binder
patent: 32 31 483 A1 (1984-03-01), None
Brochure on EpiScope Skin Surface Microscope manufactured by Welch Allyn, Skaneateles Falls, NY.
Brochure on DermaScope manufactured by Bio-Rad Micromeasurements Inc., Cambridge, Mass.

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