Patent Abstract:
An apparatus and method for aiding a person to conduct self-examination of the skin in a mirror has a light source emanating light that impinges upon the skin of the person, causing light to be reflected from the skin and causing the skin to emit light, the reflected and emitted light impinging on the mirror and further reflecting from the mirror to the eye of the person. A pair of goggles worn by the person has lenses that are light filters and/or polarizers. The light source may be in the form of a flashlight which has filters and/or polarizers disposed over the output. The lenses and polarizer are preferably removable and the polarizer may be rotatable to provide various illuminating light combinations. The image reviewed by the person as a consequence of the lenses in the goggles and over the flashlight are enhanced for viewing features of the skin depending upon the combination of lenses, filters, polarizers and their respective relative orientations.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to apparatus and method for viewing the skin, and more particularly, for viewing the skin under different wavelengths and polarization of light.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The monitoring and maintenance of healthy skin is an important concern for most people. Typically people examine their skin using a mirror in a setting with natural, incandescent and/or fluorescent lighting. This self examination process is used by a person to ascertain the condition of their skin and potentially to treat the skin with various therapies and preparations in order to improve the condition of the skin. For example, upon viewing the skin in the mirror and ascertaining that the skin looks oily, the selection and use of a washing and/or drying agent may be employed. The presence of wrinkled skin may indicate that a moisturizer or other wrinkle treatment would be advisable. People with acne frequently check their skin in the mirror to monitor and treat the acne condition. In addition to the skin conditions that are readily visible in normal lighting environments, there are also conditions that are invisible to inspection using a mirror in typical lighting. For example, conditions of the skin, such as the dilation of blood vessels below the surface, and UV photo damage to subsurface layers (mainly due to exposure to the sun), etc., will not necessarily be apparent by simply viewing the surface of the skin in a mirror. It is now known that inspection of the skin utilizing various wavelengths of light and/or polarized light can illuminate and reveal skin conditions which would otherwise be imperceptible. In addition, these alternative illuminating techniques can highlight and emphasize visible conditions, such as wrinkles or acne. Known techniques for sub-surface or enhanced surface viewing typically involve photography, wherein a flash unit which is capable of producing light of a particular wavelength is activated and an image captured with a camera. Various filters may also be employed in this process. For example, polarized photography has been utilized to enhance the surface or subsurface features of the skin by placing the polarizer in front of a flash unit and in front of a camera, and a photograph of the skin taken under these conditions. When the pictures obtained are examined, surface features of the skin, such as scales, wrinkles, fine lines, pores, and hairs are visually enhanced. When the polarizers are arranged perpendicular to each other, sub-surface features of the skin such as erythema pigmentation and blood vessels are visually enhanced. When the polarizers are in the same orientation, surface features of the skin such as scales, wrinkles, fine lines, pores and hairs are visually enhanced. Ultraviolet (UV) photography utilizing a flash unit filtered to produce ultraviolet A light and a camera is filtered so that only visible light enters the lens produces images that are visually enhanced with regard to pigmentation, the presence of the bacteria p. acnes and horn. A variation of ultraviolet photography has been termed the “sun camera” where ultraviolet A light is used to illuminate the skin and an ultraviolet A sensitive digital camera is used to record the ultraviolet light reflected from the skin. In this arrangement, both pigment distribution and the surface features of the skin are visually enhanced. While the foregoing photographic techniques have proven valuable and useful for analyzing the condition of the skin, they require fairly sophisticated and expensive equipment and the use of photographic techniques. There is a need therefore for an inexpensive and uncomplicated apparatus and method for enhanced visualization of the skin.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The problems and disadvantages associated with conventional apparatus and techniques utilized to view the skin are overcome by the present invention, which includes apparatus and methods for aiding a person illuminated by a light source to view their skin in a mirror. The light source emanates light that impinges upon the skin of the person, causing light to be reflected from the skin and causing the skin to emit light, the reflected and emitted light impinging on the mirror and further reflecting from the mirror to the eye of the person. The emanation of light from the light source and subsequent reflections and emanation from the skin and the mirror to the eye define a path of light energy from the light source to the eye. A light modification element other than a magnifying lens is interposed in the path of light energy between the light source and the eye of the person viewing the skin, the light modification element enhancing the visualization of at least one attribute of the skin. In accordance with a method for conducting self-examination of the skin in a mirror, a person illuminates the skin with a light source emanating light of a selected wavelength and state of polarization/nonpolarization to create a path of light energy from the light source to the eye of the person. A light modification element other than a magnifying lens is positioned in the path of light to enhance the person&#39;s view of themselves in the mirror, such that the perceptibility of an attribute of their skin is visually enhanced over that otherwise viewable in the mirror without the light modification element. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0004]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a person examining their skin in a mirror and using an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0005]      FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic view of the invention of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0006]      FIG. 3  is another diagrammatic view of the invention of  FIG. 1  showing different combinations of illuminating light and filtering for viewing surfaces S 1  through S 4 ;  
         [0007]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the light source shown in  FIGS. 1-3 ;  
         [0008]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a person using a second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0009]      FIG. 6  is a diagrammatic view of a cross section of the invention shown in  FIG. 5  taken along section lines VI-VI and looking in the direction of the arrows; and  
         [0010]      FIG. 7  is a front view of the invention shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  shows a visualizing system  5  used by a person P examining her reflected facial image RI in a mirror  10 . Light source  12  illuminates the face of the person P, for example, at surface S 0  via illuminating light  14 . The illuminating light  14  reflects off the surface S 0  and/or causes the skin or other surface components of the surface S 0  as well as the subsurface layers of the skin proximate to S 0  to fluoresce. The resultant reflected and or fluorescent light  16  emanates from the surface S 0  and impinges on corresponding reflected surface S or  on the mirror image RI. Light  16  is reflected from the mirror  10  as indicated by lines  18  and passes through lenses  20   a ,  20   b  of goggles/eyeglasses  22  where it enters the eye of the person P to allow examination of S 0  by that person. The light source  12  may have a polarizer and/or filter portion  24  which may be rotated relative to light source  12  and/or removed depending on the imaging that is desired. In  FIG. 2 , the lens  20   a , of the goggles  22  is shown as being rotatable, for example if it is a polarizer. A polarizer and/or filter lens  24  may be interposed at the output of the light source  12  and/or in association with the goggles  22 , namely as one or more lenses  20   a . As used herein, the term “lens” is intended to include any light modifying element, e.g., filter elements, such as a filter excluding light of particular wavelengths and/or polarizing elements. More particularly, the lenses  20   a ,  20   b  of the goggles  22  may be composite, i.e., may be composed of multiple lenses/filters/polarizers to achieve a desired transmissibility to the reflected light  18 . Having passed through the lenses  20   a ,  20   b  of the goggles  22 , the observed light  19  can then be seen by the eye E of the person P. The foregoing apparatus and associated method therefore presents a system  5  whereby skin conditions may be visualized by utilizing a simple hand held light source  12  similar in size to a flashlight that produces specific and selectable wavelengths and/or polarization characteristics. These selected wavelength and/or polarizing characteristics of the light source are then coupled with selected filtering or polarization lenses associated with the goggles  22  in order to highlight specific skin conditions. While eyeglass-type goggles  22  with fixed lenses  20   a ,  20   b  are shown in  FIG. 1 , goggles  22  utilizing frames for receiving clip-on or screw-on lenses may be employed. Stacking of lenses, if desired, may be accomplished by using conventional clip-on or screw-on arrangements that are known in the fields of optometry and photography, e.g., as illustrated by the various types of clip-on sunglasses, or clip-on or threaded filters for use on cameras. Similarly, while fixed lenses are shown, lenses that are rotatably mounted to the frame of the goggles  22  or that may be affixed to the goggles  22  in a plurality of orientations is within the scope of the present invention and would be useful for affixing polarizing lenses to the goggles  22 . Exemplary means for selecting and positioning lenses  20   a ,  20   b  singly or in combination are shown in  FIGS. 8-12 . A system  5  in accordance with the present invention therefore allows a user to self-visualize and evaluate skin conditions in order to select and apply skin products based upon changing needs and/or to visualize skin improvement resulting from successful therapy with these products.  
         [0012]     The system  5  comprehends a single-use device e.g., a pair of goggles with a single type of lenses  20   a ,  20   b  and a light  12  having a single illuminating light output, or may use multiple light sources/filters and goggle combinations. A plurality of different lenses/filters may be provided to cooperate with a single pair of goggles  22  and a single light  12 , or a set of different goggles  22  and/or set of different light sources  12  may be utilized.  
         [0013]     Various selectable components and combinations of lenses  20  and lights  12  for the system  5  are illustrated in  FIG. 3  wherein light sources  12   u ,  12   b ,  12   w  radiate light in a specific range of wavelengths  13   u ,  13   b ,  13   w . In the case of the white light sources  12   w , the emitted white light  13   w  is passed through polarizing elements, either  24   p1  or  24   p2  before it is reflected off the surface to be viewed, e.g., S 3  or S 4 . The UV light source  12   u  is not filtered or polarized, such that the light  13   u  emitted therefrom reflects from surface S 1  to produce resultant reflected light  16 . Similarly the blue light  13   b  from the blue light source  12   b  is not polarized or filtered prior to reflecting off surface S 2  to produce reflected light  16 . Having reflected off the surfaces S 1 , S 2 , S 3 , S 4 , the reflected light  16  may be further processed by a polarizer set at a specific orientation, e.g.,  20   p1 , a light filter, e.g., a yellow light filter  20   y , or a UV light filter  20   nu . Having passed through the filters and/or polarizers  20  which are associated with the goggles  22 , the observed light  19  then enters the eye E of the person visualizing the skin.  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  shows a configuration of multiple light sources (bulbs, LEDs filtered light emitters)  12   b ,  12   w ,  12   u  that could be utilized in light  12 . The light  12  may have multiple emitters for emitting specific wavelengths of light upon selection via a switch disposed on the surface of the light  12 , for viewing specific skin features. The system  5  may be used for enhanced viewing of several different skin conditions/states. The following examples are illustrative.  
         [0015]     For viewing skin wrinkles, the light  12  may include a white light source, such as a tungsten lamp, white LED, fluorescent bulb, or metal halide light. Illuminating light is filtered through a polarizing lens  24  disposed on the output of the light  12 . The light  12  may be held by the user and shone onto the face (or body) to be analyzed in front of a normal mirror. The user wears a set of goggles  22  that include polarizing filter lenses  20   a ,  20   b  oriented in the same polarization direction as the polarizing lens  24 . This configuration of the system  5  enhances the visualization of surface texture and wrinkles of the skin, while obscuring the skin&#39;s sub-surface characteristics that can obscure surface information.  
         [0016]     To view skin inflammation and sub-surface blood vessels, the light  12  includes a white light source, such as a tungsten lamp, white LED, fluorescent bulb, or metal halide light. The illuminating light is filtered through a polarizing lens  24  on the output of the light  12 . The light  12  may be held by the user and shone onto the face (or body) to be analyzed in front of a normal mirror. The orientation of the polarization filter  24  is perpendicular to polarizing filter lenses  20   a ,  20   b  of the goggles  22 . In this configuration, the system  5  eliminates the visualization of the surface texture and wrinkles of the skin, while enhancing the skin&#39;s sub-surface characteristics such as the redness and vasculature under the skin&#39;s surface.  
         [0017]     Acne related conditions, i.e., horn and bacteria may be viewed with a light  12  emitting blue light (380-420 nm), which can be produced by LED&#39;s, or white light from a tungsten bulb or metal halide or blue fluorescent source, that is shone onto the face of the user. The user wears goggles  22  with yellow lenses  20   a ,  20   b , which block the incident blue light and allows for the visualization of porphyrin fluorescence (red color) showing where bacteria is active in producing porphyrins from sebum and the location of individual comedones expressing horn (epidermal cells with sebaceous material) which fluoresces white. Using this configuration of the system  5 , areas of acne activity prior to inflammatory breakout may be visualized.  
         [0018]     The system  5  may be utilized to view UV photodamage, collagen and elastin florescence and pigmentation by using a light  12  emitting UV light (320-400 nm). UV light can be produced by a fluorescent black light bulb, a filtered tungsten lamp, a filtered zenon lamp, a UV LED, or filtered metal halide source. The UV light is shone onto the face or body of the user to fluoresce the collagen and elastin in the skin. The level of fluorescence is dependent on the amount of photo damage and skin age of the individual. The amount of pigment and distribution of pigment is highlighted by the underlying collagen and elastin fluorescence and indicates the extent of photodamage to the individual&#39;s skin. The user should wear goggles  22  with UV filtering lenses  20   a ,  20   b  that block UV radiation to protect the eyes from the potentially harmful UV.  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  shows an alternative embodiment of the system  55  in accordance with the present invention utilizing an illuminating mirror  58 . The illuminating mirror  58  has a mirror portion  60 , which may be a conventional reflective mirror to provide a reflected image RI. The mirror portion  60  is surrounded by a ring-shaped light source  62  which may be in the form of a plurality of individual illuminating elements/ lights  80  that are disposed about the periphery of the mirror portion  60 . The lights  80  are mounted in housing  64  and the housing may accommodate a diffuser or polarizing ring  78  as shall be described below. The housing  64  is pivotally mounted on mounting ring  66  at pivots  70  to permit repositioning of the mirror along the axis established between the pivots  70 . In addition to pivoting, the illuminating mirror  58  can be rotated by sliding the mounting ring  66  through the support post  68  to establish a particular angular orientation of the light source  62 . This ability to rotate the illuminating mirror on the mounting ring  66  is useful in the instance where the light source  62  includes a polarizing element disposed thereover to polarize the light  72  emanating from the light source  62 . In this manner, the direction of the polarizing element can be changed to conduct various skin examinations, i.e., to position the polarizing element perpendicular to or parallel to the orientation of polarizer elements associated with the goggles  22  in a similar fashion as the polarizing elements  24   p1  and  24   p2  may be orientated relative to polarizing elements  20   p  of the prior embodiment described above. As in the prior embodiment, light  72  projected from the light source  62  impinges upon a surface S 0  on the face of the person P and is reflected therefrom  74  to a corresponding point S 0r  on the reflected image RI appearing in the mirror. The light is then reflected from surface S 0r  towards the lenses  20   a ,  20   b  of the goggles  22  where it is then converted into the observed light  19  due to its passage through the lens elements  20   a ,  20   b .  
         [0020]      FIGS. 6 and 7  show that lights  80  within the light source  62  may be a plurality of independent bulbs or LEDs which generate specific wavelengths of light, viz., UV light  80   u , blue light  80   b , and white light  80   w . As noted above, various combinations of lenses, filters and polarizers can be used in conjunction with the lights  80  to produce a desired illuminating light  72 .  
         [0021]      FIGS. 8 and 9  show goggles  82  having threaded flanges  84  for receiving one or more nested lenses  86   a ,  86   b , which may be filters or polarizers as described above.  
         [0022]      FIG. 10  shows conventional clip-on style lenses  88  with hooks for grasping the frame of a pair of goggles  22 .  
         [0023]      FIGS. 11 and 12  show goggles  92  with a slotted frame  94  for receiving lens inserts  96   a ,  96   b . In the embodiment shown, the lens inserts  96   a ,  96   b  are rotatable via tab  98 , e.g., to serve as adjustable polarizers.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0