Enhancing pigmentation in dermoscopy images
AssigneeCanfield Scientific, Incorporated
InventorSachin V. Patwardhan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for modifying images of skin so as to reduce or enhance the appearance of component pigments, such as melanin and hemoglobin. A diffuse reflectance image of skin, such as a cross-polarized contact dermoscopy image, which conveys information regarding subsurface features of the skin, is processed so as to extract pigment distribution information, which is then used to correct the diffuse reflectance image, such as by reducing the appearance of melanin to allow better visualization of hemoglobin-related structures, such as vasculature. Alternatively, the diffuse reflectance image can be corrected so as to reduce the appearance of hemoglobin to allow better visualization of melanin-related structures.
Claims19
A method performed by a skin imaging apparatus comprising:
- obtaining a diffuse reflectance image of an area of skin;
- determining a pigment component of the diffuse reflectance image, the pigment component being representative of a pigment in the area of skin;
- generating a pigment absorption distribution image in accordance with the pigment component;
- modifying the diffuse reflectance image to reduce or enhance the appearance of the pigment by combining the diffuse reflectance image with the pigment absorption distribution image;
- and
- causing the modified diffuse reflectance image to be displayed, stored, transmitted or further processed.
A skin imaging apparatus comprising:
- a storage device configured to contain instructions;
- and
- a processor configured to execute the instructions to:
- obtain a diffuse reflectance image of an area of skin;
- determine a pigment component of the diffuse reflectance image, the pigment component being representative of a pigment in the area of skin;
- generate a pigment absorption distribution image in accordance with the pigment component;
- modify the diffuse reflectance image to reduce or enhance the appearance of the pigment by combining the diffuse reflectance image with the pigment absorption distribution image;
- and
- cause the modified diffuse reflectance image to be displayed, stored, transmitted or further processed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.