Handheld Skin Scanner for Lesion Change Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current skin cancer screening methods, primarily conducted in doctor's offices or clinics, are ineffective for early detection of small or rapidly changing skin lesions, as they rely on visual inspection and may not identify new or evolving lesions promptly.
Innovation Solution
A personal skin scanner system comprising a handheld device with a skin contact surface, primary and secondary cameras, and an illumination source, connected to a computer system for image recording, storage, and analysis, allowing users to take frequent high-quality scans, create 2D and 3D views, and detect changes in skin lesions through automated image comparison.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If visual inspection methods are used in doctor's offices or clinics, then skin cancer screening can be performed, but early detection of small or rapidly changing skin lesions is ineffective
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses digital imaging to create copies of skin lesion images, allowing for detailed analysis and comparison over time. The system captures high-resolution images of skin lesions and stores them for future reference, enabling detection of changes that would be difficult to perceive through visual inspection alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical visual inspection process with an automated digital imaging and analysis system. The computer system automatically captures, stores, and compares images, substituting the manual visual examination performed by doctors with an automated optical and computational system.
2Reliability
If frequent monitoring is implemented, then early detection of skin lesions improves, but current methods are not practical for regular use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables patients to perform their own skin examinations using a personal scanner device. The system is designed for self-use, allowing patients to capture images of their own skin lesions at home without requiring a doctor's office visit, making frequent monitoring practical and accessible.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a dynamic monitoring system where images can be captured, stored, and compared over time. The system adapts to allow ongoing monitoring rather than static single-point examination, enabling patients to track changes in their skin lesions across multiple time points.
3Measurement precision
If automated image comparison is used, then detection accuracy improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex manual analysis with automated computer-based image comparison algorithms. The computer system automatically compares images taken at different times to detect changes, substituting what would otherwise require complex human analysis with an automated computational process.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Facilitates early detection of skin lesions by enabling users to monitor their skin frequently and privately, leading to better medical outcomes and potentially reducing costs associated with late-stage diagnoses.
Implementation Method 1
The illumination source can include one or more LEDs
Data Source
AI summary
A personal skin lesion scanner system that can facilitate early detection of changes in the appearance of a user's skin is described. The system includes a handheld device for home use, to record images of a user's skin, and software for analyzing the images. The system can automatically detect changes in the user's skin, such as changes in the size, shape, or color of a skin lesion, and alert the user if any changes are detected.