Skin imaging and analysis systems and methods
DC
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for locating one or more visual skin defects of a portion of a person, comprising:
- acquiring a first digital image of the portion of the person;
electronically analyzing the first digital image of the portion of the person to locate an area containing a skin defect;
determining a first numerical severity associated with the area containing the skin defect; and
generating a comparison between the first numerical severity and a predetermined value associated with a population of people.
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Abstract
The apparatus and method of the present invention provides a process that can be implemented by a human operator and a computing device to analyze and display human skin images. The system acquires a digital image from a camera or scanner. Subsequently, the system determines which area(s) of the image to analyze using landmarks such as the corner of the eye. The determined areas are then analyzed to locate skin defects such as red spots, and the defects are visually identified on a display. A severity is calculated for the defects and the severity is compared to an average skin severity associated with a population of people. In addition, a simulation is generated and displayed showing an improvement to the defect areas.
207 Citations
41 Claims
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1. A method for locating one or more visual skin defects of a portion of a person, comprising:
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acquiring a first digital image of the portion of the person;
electronically analyzing the first digital image of the portion of the person to locate an area containing a skin defect;
determining a first numerical severity associated with the area containing the skin defect; and
generating a comparison between the first numerical severity and a predetermined value associated with a population of people. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
electronically creating a second digital image visually identifying the area containing the skin defect; and
displaying the second digital image.
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5. A method as defined in claim 4, further comprising:
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electronically creating a third digital image simulating an improvement to the area containing the skin defect by electronically altering the color of a plurality of pixels in the area containing the skin defect; and
displaying the third digital image.
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6. A method as defined in claim 4, further comprising the step of displaying the first digital image of the portion of the person, wherein the step of displaying the first digital image of the portion of the person and the step of displaying the third digital image, simulating an improvement to the area containing the skin defect, are repeatedly alternated.
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7. A method as defined in claim 4, further comprising:
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electronically creating a third digital image simulating a worsening to the area containing the skin defect by electronically altering the color of a plurality pixels in the area containing the skin defect; and
displaying the third digital image.
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8. A method as defined in claim 4, further comprising the step of displaying the first digital image of the portion of the person, wherein the step of displaying the first digital image and the step of outputting the second digital image are repeatedly alternated.
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9. A method as defined in claim 4, further comprising:
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identifying a plurality of landmarks located on the first digital image of the portion of the person; and
electronically determining a sub-image of the first digital image of the portion of the person based on the plurality of landmarks, wherein the step of electronically analyzing the first digital image is limited to the sub-image.
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10. A method as defined in claim 4, comprising the step of electronically determining a sub-image of the first digital image of the portion of the person by comparing a plurality of color values of a plurality of pixels to a predetermined threshold indicative of skin color, wherein the step of electronically analyzing the first digital image is limited to the sub-image.
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11. A method as defined in claim 4, wherein the first skin defect comprises one of the group consisting of (a) wrinkles, (b) fine lines, (c) smoothness,(d) texture, (e) follicular pores, (f) red spots, (g) hyperpigmentation, and (h) brown spots.
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12. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising electronically analyzing the first digital image of the face of the person to determine an overall skin characteristic associated with the digital image of the face of the person.
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13. An apparatus adaoted to perform the method of claim 1.
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14. A tangible medium storing program instructions adapted to perform the method of claim 1.
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15. A method for locating one or more visual skin defects of a portion of a person, comprising:
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acquiring a first digital image of the portion of the person;
electronically analyzing the first digital image of the portion of the person to locate an area containing a skin defect;
determining a first numerical severity associated with the area containing the skin defect; and
comparing the first numerical severity with a second numerical severity, wherein the second numerical severity is associated with the person after a skin treatment. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
electronically creating a third digital image simulating an improvement to the area containing the skin defect by electronically altering the color of a plurality of pixels in the area containing the skin defect; and
displaying the third digital image.
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17. A method as defined in claim 15, further comprising the step of displaying the first digital image of the portion of the person, wherein the step of displaying the first digital image of the portion of the person and the step of displaying the third digital image, simulating an improvement to the area containing the skin defect, are repeatedly alternated.
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18. A method as defined in claim 15, further comprising:
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electronically creating a third digital image simulating a worsening to the area containing the skin defect by electronically altering the color of a plurality pixels in the area containing the skin defect; and
displaying the third digital image.
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19. A method as defined in claim 15, further comprising the step of displaying the first digital image of the portion of the person, wherein the step of displaying the first digital image and the step of outputting the second digital image are repeatedly alternated.
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20. A method as defined in claim 15, further comprising storing the first numerical severity associated with the area containing the skin defect for the purpose of tracking a plurality of skin defect severities associated with the person over time.
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21. A method as defined in claim 15, further comprising:
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identifying a plurality of landmarks located on the first digital image of the portion of the person; and
electronically determining a sub-image of the first digital image of the portion of the person based on the plurality of landmarks, wherein the step of electronically analyzing the first digital image is limited to the sub-image.
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22. A method as defined in claim 15, further comprising the step of electronically determining a sub-image of the first digital image of the portion of the person by comparing a plurality of color values of a plurality of pixels to a predetermined threshold indicative of skin color, wherein the step of electronically analyzing the first digital image is limited to the sub-image.
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23. A method as defined in claim 15, wherein the first skin defect comprises one of the group consisting of (a) wrinkles, (b) fine lines, (c) smoothness,(d) texture, (e) follicular pores, (f) red spots, (g) hyperpigmentation, and (h) brown spots.
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24. A nethod as defined in claim 15, further comprising:
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electronically creating a second digital image visually identifying the area containing the skin defect; and
displaying the second digital image.
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25. A method as defined in claim 15, further comprising electronically analyzing the first digital image of the face of the person to determine an overall skin characteristic associated with the digital image of the face of the person.
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26. A method as defined in claim 15, further comprising the step of generating a comparison between the first numerical severity and a predetermined value associated with a population of people.
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27. A method as defined in claim 26, wherein the predetermined value associated with the population of people is one of the group consisting of (a) an age specific value, (b) a geographic specific value, and (c) an ethnic specific value.
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28. An apparatus adapted to perform the method of claim 15.
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29. A tangible medium storing program instructions adapted to perform the method of claim 15.
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30. A method for locating a plurality of visual skin defects associated with a face of a person, comprising:
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acquiring a first digital image of the face of the person, the first digital image having a size and a skin color;
identifying a first plurality of landmarks located on the first digital image of the face of the person, wherein at least one of the landmarks is selected from the group comprising (a) a corner of an eye in the first digital image, (b) a corner of a nose in the first digital image, and (c) a corner of a mouth in the first digital image;
electronically determining a sub-image of the first digital image of the face of the person based on the first plurality of landmarks; and
electronically analyzing the sub-image of the first digital image of the face of the person to locate a plurality of defect areas, wherein each defect area contains a visual skin defect and each defect area has a size that is less than about 10% of the size of the first digital image of the face of the person. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
selecting the positions of a second plurality of landmarks by activating an input device while a cursor is displayed on a display device at each of the landmarks in the second plurality of landmarks, wherein the second plurality of landmarks is a subset of the first plurality of landmarks; and
electronically determining the positions of a third plurality of landmarks based on the positions of the second plurality of landmarks and a predetermined template of standard landmarks, wherein the third plurality of landmarks is a subset of the first plurality of landmarks.
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33. A method as defined in claim 30, wherein the step of identifying the first plurality of landmarks located in the first digital image of the face of the person comprises electronically detecting the position of at least one of the landmarks in the first plurality of landmarks.
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34. A method as defined in claim 30, further comprising:
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electronically creating a second digital image based on the first digital image of the face of the person and the location of the defect areas, the second digital image visually identifying the plurality of defect areas located in the first digital image of the face of the person by electronically altering the color of a plurality of pixels substantially in the area containing the skin defect to at least one color visually distinct from the skin color of the first digital image; and
displaying the second digital image on a display.
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35. A method as defined in claim 30, further comprising:
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determining a first numerical severity associated with the plurality of defect areas located in the first digital image of the face of the person; and
generating a comparison between the first numerical severity and a predetermined value associated with a population of people.
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36. An apparatus adapted to perform the method of claim 30.
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37. A tangible medium storing program instructions adapted to perform the method of claim 30.
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38. A method for characterizing skin associated with a face of a person, comprising:
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acquiring a first digital image of the face of the person;
electronically determining a sub-image of the first digital image of the face of the person;
electronically analyzing the sub-image of the first digital image of the face of the person to determine an overall skin characteristic associated with the digital image of the face of the person; and
determining a comparison between the overall skin characteristic and a predetermined value associated with a population of people. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41)
generating a second digital image based on the comparison between the overall skin characteristic and the predetermined value; and
displaying the second digital image on a display.
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40. An apparatus adapted to perform the method of claim 38.
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41. A tangible medium storing program instructions adapted to perform the method of claim 38.
Specification
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Litigation Data
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Current AssigneeThe Procter & Gamble Company
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Original AssigneeThe Procter & Gamble Company
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InventorsRubush, Michael Eugene, Miyamoto, Kukizo, Hilton, Michael Lee, Hillebrand, Greg George, Barford, Brian Dale, Miller, Joseph Michael, Heaton, Gary Gordon, Hayworth, Mark Steven
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Primary Examiner(s)Ahmed, Samir
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Assistant Examiner(s)Bali, Vikkram
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Application NumberUS09/333,136Time in Patent Office1,443 DaysField of Search382/100, 382/128, 382/118, 382/115, 128/922, 348/77, 348/78, 348/80, 600/306US Class Current382/118CPC Class CodesA61B 5/0064 Body surface scanningA61B 5/442 Evaluating skin mechanical ...A61B 5/444 Evaluating skin marks, e.g....A61B 5/7435 Displaying user selection d...
