Patent ID: 7734077
Filing Date: 2010-06-08
Classification: A61B,G06K,G06T

Abstract:
1. A method of screening for skin abnormalities comprising the steps of: imaging a skin lesion with a three dimensional scanner from one or more angles to create one or more images; combining said images to create a first three dimensional surface model of said lesion; repeating the imaging and combining process at a later time to create a second three dimensional surface model of said lesion; comparing said first and said second three dimensional models to determine if said lesion exhibits a change in size or shape; imaging said skin lesion with a near-infrared imager; comparing the reflectance of said skin lesion with a reference near-infrared image of said skin lesion; determining the difference in reflectance between said skin lesion and said reference image at near-infrared wavelengths; combining said near-infrared image with said second three dimensional surface model; determining any differences in shape between said second three dimensional surface model and said reference model; and correlating said differences in reflectance with said differences in shape.