Biocompatibles UK Limited

Medx Health Corporation

Mark Chellingworth

Robert James Morse

Stephen John Preece

Symon D'Oyly Cotton

Symon D'oyly Cotton

Symon D Cotton

Symon Cotton

Robert Morse

Rober Morse

A method of obtaining a measurement of the extent of telangectasia in an area of skin is disclosed. Initially (S-) an image of an area of skin () to be analyzed is obtained. The obtained image is then processed (S--S-) to determine blood distribution data indicative of the distribution of blood in an imaged area of skin. This blood distribution data is then converted (S-) using a Discrete Fourier Transform and the converted blood distribution data is then processed to obtain a measurement of the extent features in a determined distribution of blood correspond to structures of a predetermined size. The obtained measurement of the extent of telangectasia can then be combined (s-) with other measurements of the effects of photo-damage such as measurements of melanin disorder and collagen degradation to obtain a measurement of the extent of photo-damage.

Methods and apparatus for quantifying photo-damage

An image of an individual () is obtained using a digital camera (). The image data is then processed by ratio determination module () and an image conversion module () to analyze the image and determine data representative of the distribution of blood and melanin in the skin of the imaged individual. This chromophore distribution data is then processed by an image generation module () which generates an image representative of the expected appearance of epithelial tissue having the determined distribution of chromophores where the epithelial tissue is under fixed illumination and has a flat spatial geometry and where all the identified melanin is present solely in the epidermis. The presence of dermal melanin can then be identified by comparing the original image data and the image derived from processing the calculated chromophore distributions and identifying where the ratio of these images differs by more than a threshold, the threshold being set at a level above the amount of variation expected due to lighting and geometry differences.

Method and apparatus for detecting the presence of dermal melanin in epithelial tissue

An image of an individual () is obtained via a digital camera (). The RGB image data is then processed to derive from the image data data representative of the distribution of chromophores resulting in the appearance of the individual (). A calculated chromophore distribution is then utilised to derive a revised chromophore distribution representing the effect of the desired cosmetic or surgical intervention or medical condition. This chromophore distribution is then processed to generate an output image () illustrating the expected result of that intervention. The generated image () can be displayed simultaneously with an original image () so that the extent of expected improvement can be determined.

Image processing method and apparatus

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Vale of Glamorgan, United Kingdom

Mark Chellingworth