Patent ID: 7027153

Claim:
A dermoscopy epiluminescence device comprising: a) a generally circular optical lens defining an outer circumference to produce a magnified image of an object to be observed by a viewer; b) a first illumination source comprising a plurality of luminous diodes radiating a first colored wavelength spaced about the circumference of said optical lens to direct light upon the object; c) a second illumination source comprising a plurality of luminous diodes radiating a second colored wavelength to direct light upon the object wherein each diode is positioned between diodes of the first illumination source about the circumference of the optical lens to form a ring of alternating diodes from said first and second illumination sources; d) a first polarizer comprising a planar annular ring filter defining a generally circular center opening and an outer ring, said center opening of said annular ring is positioned in corresponding alignment with the circular optical lens to provide an open view of the object through the lens, said outer ring having a plurality of openings sized and positioned to correspond to the diodes of the second illumination source such that light emitted from the diodes of the second illumination source is passed through the openings toward the object and light emitted from the diodes of the first illumination source is polarized by the first polarizer filter; e) a second polarizer comprising a planar annular ring filter defining a generally circular center opening and an outer ring, said center opening of said annular ring is positioned in corresponding alignment with the circular optical lens to provide an open view of the object through the lens, said outer ring having a plurality of openings sized and positioned to correspond to the diodes of the first illumination source such that light emitted from the diodes of the first illumination source is passed through the openings toward the object and light emitted from the diodes of the second illumination source is polarized by the second polarizer filter; and f) a viewing polarizer positioned between a viewer and the object to polarize light reflected from the object wherein said viewing polarizer is cross-polarized relative to said first polarized illumination source and is parallel-polarized relative to said second illumination source; g) at least one switch for initiating the first and second illumination sources.