# US 2008/0186496 A1 · Method of Observing Biological Tissue, in Particular Human Skin > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0186496 A1 - Document ID: US20080186496A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/666,912 - Filed: 2005-11-28 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2004-11-26 - Assignees: L'oreal - Inventors: Jean-Luc Leveque; Neso Sojic - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080186496A1 ## CPC - A61B 5/441: {Skin evaluation, e.g. for skin disorder diagnosis} - A61B 5/0059: {using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence (photoacoustic A61B5/0093; optical measurement of heart rate A61B5/02416; optical measurement of blood flow A61B5/0261; optical measurement of analytes A61B5/1455)} - A61B 5/0071: {by measuring fluorescence emission} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract The present invention relates to a method of observing biological tissue, the method comprising: collecting through a first end of a bundle of optical fibers light from a surface of the tissue; observing at least one image of the tissue at a second end of the bundle, while injecting light into the second end of the bundle to illuminate the surface of the tissue. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-77. (canceled) ### Claim 78 A method of observing biological tissue, the method comprising: collecting through a first end of a bundle of optical fibers light from a surface of the tissue; observing at least one image of the tissue at a second end of the bundle, while injecting light into the second end of the bundle to illuminate the surface of the tissue. ### Claim 79 (depends on 78) A method according to claim 78, wherein the first end of the bundle is put into contact with the surface of the tissue. ### Claim 80 (depends on 78) A method according to claim 78, wherein the first end of the bundle is spaced from the surface of the tissue by a distance. ### Claim 81 (depends on 80) A method according to claim 80, wherein light is collected by the first end of the bundle through an optical system comprising at least one lens. ### Claim 82 (depends on 81) A method according to claim 81, wherein the distance between the optical system and the surface of the tissue ranges from 100 μm to 1 mm. ### Claim 83 (depends on 82) A method according to claim 82, wherein the distance between the optical system and the surface of the tissue ranges from 200 μm to 500 μm. ### Claim 84 (depends on 81) A method according to claim 81, wherein the at least one lens comprises a magnifying lens. ### Claim 85 (depends on 84) A method according to claim 84, wherein the at least one lens comprises a collimating lens. ### Claim 86 (depends on 81) A method according to claim 81, wherein the optical system comprises a first lens and second lens, light from the surface of the tissue passing through the second lens and then the first lens. ### Claim 87 (depends on 86) A method according to claim 86, wherein the first lens is a collimating lens and the second lens is a magnifying lens. ### Claim 88 (depends on 86) A method according to claim 86, wherein the length of the first lens ranges from 4.4 to 6.8 mm. ### Claim 89 (depends on 86) A method according to claim 86, wherein the length of the second lens ranges from 1.8 to 2.9 mm. ### Claim 90 (depends on 81) A method according to claim 81, wherein the at least one lens comprises a lens with an index gradient. ### Claim 91 (depends on 90) A method according to claim 90, wherein the at least one lens with an index gradient has a g value of the index gradient at 670 nm greater or equal to 0.25 mm-1. ### Claim 92 (depends on 81) A method according to claim 81, wherein the at least one lens is cylindrical. ### Claim 93 (depends on 92) A method according to claim 92, wherein the at least one lens has an external diameter less than or equal to 2 mm. ### Claim 94 (depends on 78) A method according to claim 78, wherein the spatial resolution of the bundle is better than 5 μm. ### Claim 95 (depends on 78) A method according to claim 78, wherein the spatial resolution is better than 4 μm. ### Claim 96 (depends on 78) A method according to claim 78, wherein the spatial resolution is better than 3 μm. ### Claim 97 (depends on 80) A method according to claim 80, wherein the spatial resolution is better than 1.5 μm. ### Claim 98 (depends on 78) A method according to claim 78, wherein the optical fibers have a diameter that is less than or equal to 4 μm. ### Claim 99 (depends on 98) A method according to claim 98, wherein the diameter lies in the range from about 2 μm to about 3 μm. ### Claim 100 (depends on 78) A method according to claim 78, wherein the bundle comprises not less than 2500 optical fibers. ### Claim 101 (depends on 100) A method according to claim 100, wherein the bundle comprises not less than 10,000 optical fibers. ### Claim 102 (depends on 78) A method according to claim 78, wherein a section occupied by the bundle of optical fibers is greater than or equal to 0.01 mm2. ### Claim 103 (depends on 102) A method according to claim 102, wherein the section is greater or equal to 0.1 mm2. ### Claim 104 (depends on 78) A method according to claim 78, wherein the tissue is natural tissue. ### Claim 105 (depends on 104) A method according to claim 104, wherein the observation is an made in vivo observation. ### Claim 106 (depends on 78) A method according to claim 78, wherein the observation is an made in vitro observation. ### Claim 107 (depends on 78) A method according to claim 78, wherein the tissue is skin. ### Claim 108 (depends on 78) A method according to claim 78, wherein the tissue is a keratinous fiber. ### Claim 109 (depends on 107) A method according to claim 107, wherein the at least one image is processed so as to determine information associated with corneocytes. ### Claim 110 (depends on 109) A method according to claim 109, wherein the information relates to the number of corneocytes present in the at least one image. ### Claim 111 (depends on 109) A method according to claim 109, wherein the information relates to the mean or median size of the corneocytes. ### Claim 112 (depends on 78) A method according to claim 78, wherein prior to making the observation, a fluorescent marker is put into contact with the tissue. ### Claim 113 (depends on 78) A method according to claim 78, wherein light centered on a first wavelength (λ1) is injected into the fibers, and wherein the observation is made at a second wavelength (λ2) that is different from the first. ### Claim 114 (depends on 113) A method according to claim 113, wherein the wavelengths are selected as a function of a fluorescent marker put into contact with the tissue so as to maximize contrast in the obtained image. ### Claim 115 (depends on 78) A method according to claim 78, wherein the at least one image is acquired with an array sensor. ### Claim 116 (depends on 115) A method according to claim 115, wherein the array sensor is a CCD sensor. ### Claim 117 (depends on 78) A method according to claim 78, wherein at least two observations are made at two different locations of the tissue. ### Claim 118 (depends on 117) A method according to claim 117, wherein two observations are made at two respective regions of the tissue that have been exposed in different ways to a given environment. ### Claim 119 (depends on 118) A method according to claim 118, wherein the two regions have been exposed in different ways to ultraviolet light. ### Claim 120 (depends on 117) A method according to claim 117, wherein the two regions have been treated differently with a substance. ### Claim 121 (depends on 109) A method according to claim 109, wherein information relating to aging of the skin is delivered. ### Claim 122 (depends on 78) A method according to claim 78, wherein the surface of the tissue is situated inside a hair follicle. ### Claim 123 (depends on 78) A method according to claim 78, wherein the result of an observation is compared with reference data. ### Claim 124 (depends on 78) A method according to claim 78, wherein a plurality of observations are made at different locations, and wherein the results of the various observations are processed statistically to obtain a value that is representative of an observed parameter. ### Claim 125 (depends on 124) A method according to claim 124, wherein the value is a mean or median value. ### Claim 126 (depends on 78) A method of revealing the effect of a treatment, the method comprising: before the treatment, making a first observation by means of the method as defined in claim 78; after the treatment, making a second observation by means of the method as defined in claim 78; and comparing the results of the first and second observations. ### Claim 127 (depends on 126) A method according to claim 126, wherein information relating to at least one effect of the treatment is determined as a function of the comparison of the results of the first and second observations. ### Claim 128 (depends on 78) A method of predicting changes that will occur in at least one physical and/or biological parameter of some tissue, the method comprising: making at least one observation by implementing the method as defined in claim 78; and from the result of the observation, predicting changes that will occur in said parameter. ### Claim 129 (depends on 78) A method of prescribing a cosmetic, the method comprising: making at least one observation by implementing the method as defined in claim 78; and from the result of the observation, prescribing at least one cosmetic. ### Claim 130 Skin-imaging apparatus comprising: a bundle of optical fibers having a first end for collecting light from a surface of a tissue; an injector system for injecting light into the bundle at a second end thereof; and an analyzer system for analyzing an image formed at the second end of the bundle. ### Claim 131 (depends on 130) Apparatus according to claim 130, further comprising: an image-processor system configured to deliver at least one information associated with the observed corneocytes. ### Claim 132 (depends on 130) Apparatus according to claim 130, wherein the resolution of said bundle is sufficient for allowing observation of corneocytes at the surface of the skin. ### Claim 133 (depends on 130) Apparatus according to claim 130, wherein the first end of the bundle is configured for contacting skin. ### Claim 134 (depends on 130) Apparatus according to claim 130, wherein the first end of the bundle is configured for observing skin while being spaced from the surface of the tissue by a distance. ### Claim 135 (depends on 130) Apparatus according to claim 130, further comprising an optical system comprising at least one lens. ### Claim 136 (depends on 134) Apparatus according to claim 134, wherein a distance between the optical system and the surface of the tissue ranges from 100 μm to 1 mm. ### Claim 137 (depends on 135) Apparatus according to claim 135, wherein the at least one lens comprises a magnifying lens. ### Claim 138 (depends on 137) Apparatus according to claim 137, wherein the at least one lens comprises a collimating lens. ### Claim 139 (depends on 135) Apparatus according to of claim 135, wherein the optical system comprises a first lens and second lens, light from the surface of the tissue passing through the second lens and then the first lens. ### Claim 140 (depends on 135) Apparatus according to of claim 135, wherein the first lens is a collimating lens and the second lens is a magnifing lens. ### Claim 141 (depends on 135) Apparatus according to claim 135, wherein the length of the first lens ranges from 4.4 to 6.8 mm. ### Claim 142 (depends on 135) Apparatus according to claim 135, wherein the length of the second lens ranges from 1.8 to 2.9 mm. ### Claim 143 (depends on 135) Apparatus according to claim 135, wherein the at least one lens comprises a lens with an index gradient. ### Claim 144 (depends on 143) Apparatus according to claim 143, wherein the at least one lens with an index gradient has a g value of the index gradient at 670 nm greater or equal to 0.25 mm-1. ### Claim 145 (depends on 135) Apparatus according to claim 135, wherein the at least one lens is cylindrical. ### Claim 146 (depends on 145) Apparatus according to claim 145, wherein the at least one lens has an external diameter less than or equal to 2 mm. ### Claim 147 (depends on 135) Apparatus according to claim 135, further comprising a dichroic mirror, a light source, and a camera, the dichroic mirror reflecting, into the bundle of fibers, a fraction of the light emitted by the light source, and the camera observing the image that is reflected back via the fibers, after passing through the dichroic mirror. ### Claim 148 (depends on 147) Apparatus according to claim 147, further including a monochromatic filter or a monochromator associated with the light source. ### Claim 149 (depends on 147) Apparatus according to claim 147, further including a monochromatic filter or a monochromator associated with the camera. ### Claim 150 (depends on 135) Apparatus according to claim 135, further including a recorder system enabling images to be stored. ### Claim 151 (depends on 135) Apparatus according to claim 135, wherein the fibers at the inlet and at the outlet of the bundle have identical positions relative to one another. ### Claim 152 (depends on 135) A kit comprising: apparatus as defined in claim 135 and a receptacle containing a fluorescent marker for applying to the skin before it is observed. ### Claim 153 A method of observing biological tissue, comprising: putting a first end of the fibers of a bundle of optical fibers into contact with a surface of the tissue, to observe an image at a second end of the fibers of the bundle. ### Claim 154 A method of observing corneocyte comprising: illuminating at a first wavelength skin, observing an image of the corneocytes at a second wavelength different from the first, using a bundle of optical fibers, the image being observed at a second end of the bundle while the first end receives light from the skin.