Western Research Company, Inc.

Karmar Research Partnership

Eric R Craine

Brian L Craine

David R Forbes

John S Scott

Thomas A Sargent

Brain L Craine

New or significantly changed skin lesions are detected by providing digital baseline image data of an area of a subject's skin by placing a calibration piece on the area and then positioning a digital camera to frame the area within a field of view of the camera and digitally photographing the area to produce a digital baseline image of the area. The digital baseline image is downloaded from the camera to a computer, which digitally filters the baseline image to produce a partially transparent baseline image scaled to fit over a viewfinder display of the camera. The filtered baseline image is printed on a transparent sheet to produce template. Substantially later, a calibration piece is placed on the area, and the template is placed over the viewfinder display of the camera. The camera is positioned to frame that area within the field of view so as to align a live image of the area with the baseline image on the template. The area is photographed to produce a digital current image thereof. The current image is downloaded to the computer, which is operated to alternately display the aligned current image data and the baseline image data to allow visual identification of lesions which changed enough in the 'alternating image comparison display' to identify a new or significantly growing lesion.

Digital skin lesion imaging system and method

New or growing skin lesions are identified by providing digital baseline image data of an area of a subject's skin, and storing the baseline image data. An imaging system is operated to produce up-to-date digital image data of the skin area directly from the subject or from a photograph thereof as a real time input to a computer. The stored baseline image data also is provided to the computer. The up-to-date image data and baseline image data are alternately displayed on a monitor in a blinking mode. The orientation, focus, and/or distance of the camera from the actual area or photograph thereof so as to frame, scale, and/or align features of the alternately displayed images. A frame of the aligned up-to-date image is digitized and stored. The stored up-to-date image data and the baseline image data are alternately displayed on a monitor in a blinking mode to visually identify lesions which blink enough to identify a new or significantly growing lesion.

Image comparator system and method for detecting changes in skin lesions

The area of a three-dimensional lesion on a cervix is determined from a two-dimensional image of the cervix. A transparent area fixation probe is used to flatten the lesion just prior to photography. The image is analyzed using a personal computer and dedicated imaging software program that calculates the cosine of the slant angle of the planar defining platform of the area fixation probe. This is accomplished by determining the apparent minor to major axis ratio of a standardization circular icon present on the planar defining platform. The lesion itself is outlined by using a mouse pointing device and the number of pixels within the outlined region are counted. The inverse of the cosine of the slant angle is then used as a correction factor to obtain the true area of the lesion by multiplying the number of pixels within the region by the correction factor.

Probe and method to obtain accurate area measurements from cervical

The area of a three-dimensional lesion on a cervix is determined from a two-dimensional image thereof produced by a digital colposcope. A stored reference cervix reflectance map including slant angles and corresponding gray scale intensity levels represents a reference cervix, and is obtained using a shape-assuming target including thereon an array of circular spots of a first reflectivity and a stiff target having thereon a first circular spot of the first reflectivity and a second circular spot of a second reflectivity. An identical stiff target is placed on the cervix, and a two-dimensional image of the lesion and the stiff target is obtained from the digital colposcope. Resulting intensities of the two-dimensional image are calibrated to the gray scale of a standard target reflectance map, and the calibrated intensities of the two-dimensional image are correlated to the intensities of the reference cervix reflectance map to determine slant angles of predetermined points of the cervix. Pixel dimensions of each pixel in the lesion then are corrected in accordance with the slant angles. The lesion area is computed by summing the areas of the pixels with corrected dimensions.

Colposcope device and method for measuring areas of cervical lesions

Early detection of lung dysfunction, which in HIV positive patients usually indicates PCP pneumonia infection, is accomplished by a CO fractional uptake test which includes supplying air containing 0.1% CO into a gas reservoir or regulator from which it is drawn through a non-rebreather valve into a mouthpiece and inhaled into the lungs of a patient. Exhaled air is directed by the non-rebreather valve into a chamber coupled to a gas inlet of an infrared CO analyzer. An end tidal volume of gas last exhaled by the patient is drawn through the CO analyzer which measures the concentration of CO therein. The concentration of CO in the air from the gas reservoir also is measured. The fractional uptake of CO is computed as a function of the patient's breathing rate and the minute volume and compared with a stored baseline value for the patient to determine the presence of or extent of lung dysfunction.

Portable pulmonary function testing device and method

An optical device for displaying a large, two dimensional image is shown which utilizes a beam splitter having four faces upon which are mounted photosensor arrays. The photosensor arrays are mounted in a mosaic-like pattern upon each face with the pattern on one face differing from the pattern on the remaining three faces. Through this arranngement, standard photosensor arrays may be used to build a device that is capable of displaying a large image with no limitation on image side due to limitations on photosensor size.

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Tucson, AZ, United States of America

Eric R Craine