Surgery – Diagnostic testing – Detecting nuclear – electromagnetic – or ultrasonic radiation
Patent
1997-05-30
2000-02-29
Lateef, Marvin M.
Surgery
Diagnostic testing
Detecting nuclear, electromagnetic, or ultrasonic radiation
356369, 606 9, A61B 500
Patent
active
060320710
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The optical examination of skin, which is observed in possibly oblique incident light, either with the naked eye, or using a magnifying glass or microscope, or with a photographic camera, is a well-known and as such well-developed technique. For example, epiluminescence microscopy (ELM) of pigmented lesions of the skin is nowadays a well-established method for the early detection of skin cancer, also for the differential diagnosis of pigmented skin lesions.
The physical-optical principle used here is simple: The skin, or a pigmented skin lesion, is observed using a device having a 4-to 10-fold magnification, such as a magnifying glass device or an operating microscope. The observed area is illuminated by a light source which is usually directed at least substantially orthogonally onto the surface of the skin. In order to be able to make use of the effect of ELM, a plane glass surface is introduced between the magnifying glass device and the surface of the skin. A few drops of immersion fluid, usually oil, are applied between the glass surface and the skin surface. This technique reduces the amount of light diffusely reflected from the ordinarily rough skin surface, and the observer is able to see down to the boundary zone between the epidermis and dermis. The pathological process of pigmented lesions is localized at this boundary zone, the so-called dermo-epidermal junction zone, as well as in the adjacent zones, such as in the epidermis or in superficial layers of the dermis.
By using ELK, a trained dermatologist can therefore gain a more accurate view of the anatomy of pigmented lesions and thus distinguish at a much earlier date between malignant and benign lesions.
A large number of international publications confirm the beneficial effect of ELM in the early diagnosis of malignant skin melanomas.
As has been found in practice, in addition to the above-mentioned, undoubtedly positive effects, the traditional method of epiluminescence microscopy (incident light microscopy) which has just been described possesses in particular the following disadvantages: operating microscopes. Documentation and discussion of the resulting images is rendered difficult as a result and requires the use of a cumbersome archiving and documentation infrastructure. inclusions of air usually occur, and these render diagnosis more difficult. disadvantages, is still used for the--understandably very important--documentation of pigmented lesions. is always necessary to make a series of exposures. for example, of the variability in the film material and the variability of the wet development process, because of which the results obtained are not comparable with each other, at least as regards assessment of gray scale or color. additional auxiliary devices such as slide projectors are employed. relatively high degree of effort and expense.
Summarizing, therefore, it can be stated that the procedure currently used to examine and assess pigmented skin lesions is efficient, but suffers from many disruptive and cost-related factors.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the purpose of the invention to create examination and image-recording facilities for human skin which meet modern requirements, to improve the methods of examination, including the image-recording technique itself, and thus to provide a diagnostic and documentation technique which makes use of all modern principles. This should not only significantly improve the efficiency of ELM in performing skin examinations in general, and specifically in the early diagnosis of pigmented skin lesions, but it should also significantly reduce the amount of manipulation required and the maintenance costs, particularly also as regards the diagnosis and documentation system.
In order to elucidate the path which leads to the invention, reference will be made right away to the drawing and the precise explanation thereof, both of which are dealt with further below. The following remarks can be made:
Within the framework of the general physical theories of epiluminesc
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Lateef Marvin M.
Norbert Artner
Shaw Shawna J
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