Dermal Imaging Sequence Analysis for Melanoma Screening Accuracy

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a shortage of dermatologists, leading to misdiagnosis and delayed treatment of melanoma due to primary care physicians lacking specialized knowledge and experience in melanoma screening.

Innovation Solution

A dermal imaging system that captures a sequence of images under different lighting and optical conditions, analyzed by computer-aided algorithms to provide a recommended diagnosis, which includes a controller to coordinate the operation of a camera, illumination unit, and lenses, and performs image preprocessing, segmentation, and feature extraction to analyze skin lesions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If primary care physicians conduct melanoma screening, then accessibility to screening is improved, but diagnostic accuracy deteriorates due to lack of specialized knowledge

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility to screeningVSAvoiddiagnostic accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an automated image analysis system as an intermediary between primary care physicians and dermatologists. The system captures dermal images, processes them through algorithms, and provides diagnostic recommendations, enabling primary care providers to perform accurate melanoma screening without requiring specialized dermatological expertise.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical system of human expert judgment with an automated computer-aided algorithm. The system uses image processing and analysis algorithms to objectively evaluate skin lesions, substituting the need for specialized human expertise while maintaining or improving diagnostic accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Loss of information

If multiple lighting and optical conditions are used for image capture, then diagnostic information is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnostic informationVSAvoidillumination and optical system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple illumination sources (different wavelengths and angles) and optical filters into a single integrated dermal imaging system. This merging of components allows the system to capture comprehensive diagnostic information across various lighting and optical conditions while presenting a unified, manageable device interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary image capture under multiple lighting and optical conditions, then automatically processes and selects the most informative images for analysis. This preliminary action ensures comprehensive data collection before the diagnostic decision-making process begins.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20260108154A1Dermal image capture

Publication Date: 2026.04.23 WELCH ALLYN INC

AI summary

A dermal imaging system coordinates operation of an illumination unit, one or more lenses, and a camera to capture a sequence of images of an area of interest on a skin surface. The system automatically tags each image in the sequence of images. The tag for each image identifies a light source, an illumination angle, and a filter selected for capturing the image. The system automatically selects at least one image from the sequence of images, and analyzes the selected image from the sequence of images to provide a recommended skin disease diagnosis.