# US 2024/0197184 A1 · Handheld skin measuring or monitoring device

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- Number: US 2024/0197184 A1
- Document ID: US20240197184A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 18/506,759
- Filed: 2023-11-10
- Published: 2024-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2011-11-28
- Assignees: ARANZ Healthcare Limited
- Applicants: Aranz Healthcare Limited
- Inventors: William Richard Fright; Brent Stephen Robinson; Shane Robert Goodwin; Bruce Clinton McCallum; Philip John Barclay
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240197184A1

## CPC

- A61B 5/0077: {Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens}
- A61B 5/0013: {Medical image data (A61B1/00011, A61B6/56, A61B8/56 take precedence)}
- A61B 5/444: {Evaluating skin marks, e.g. mole, nevi, tumour, scar}
- A61B 5/445: {Evaluating skin irritation or skin trauma, e.g. rash, eczema, wound, bed sore}
- A61B 2560/0425: Ergonomically shaped housings (A61B2560/0418 takes precedence)
- A61B 2560/0431: Portable apparatus, e.g. comprising a handle or case
- A61B 2562/0233: Special features of optical sensors or probes classified in A61B5/00
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

A handheld skin monitoring or measuring device includes a camera having a camera optical axis; and a structured light arrangement configured to project three or more laser fan beams such that the laser fan beams cross at a crossing point in front of the camera.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-17. (canceled)

### Claim 18

A method of capturing data concerning an anatomical surface feature on a skin surface of a patient, the method comprising:
directing a camera having a camera optical axis toward the skin surface;
projecting a light pattern onto the skin surface via a projection arrangement mounted in fixed relation to the camera, wherein the light pattern is formed by three or more fan beams that cross at a crossing point;
adjusting a position of the camera and the projection arrangement such that the crossing point falls on or near the skin surface; and
capturing data via the camera.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18 wherein a user may adjust the position of the camera and the projection arrangement without reference to a display by aligning the crossing point of the laser fan beams with the skin surface.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18 wherein capturing the data via the camera comprises capturing the data in response to a user capture instruction.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20 wherein capturing the data comprises capturing a plurality of images each including one or more of the fan beams such that each of the fan beams is unambiguously identifiable in the captured data.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21 wherein capturing the images comprises capturing at least one image with the fan beams turned off.

### Claim 23 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18 wherein capturing the data comprises capturing one or more images of the anatomical surface and the light pattern, and wherein the method further comprises determining a depth, area, and/or volume of the anatomical surface feature based on the captured data.

### Claim 24 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18 wherein the fan beams projected onto the skin surface define a region that substantially corresponds to an image frame of the camera, and wherein adjusting the position of the camera and the projection arrangement comprises adjusting the position of the camera and the projection arrangement such that the fan beams define a desired image region on the skin surface.

### Claim 25 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18 wherein the position of the camera and the projection arrangement such that the crossing point falls on or near the skin surface corresponds to an optimum distance range of the camera.

### Claim 26

A method of capturing data concerning an anatomical surface feature on a skin surface of a patient using a camera and a structured light projection arrangement in fixed relation to each other, the method comprising:
directing the camera towards a skin surface;
projecting a structured light pattern onto the skin surface via the structured light arrangement, wherein the structured light pattern is arranged to define a region that substantially corresponds to an image frame of the camera;
adjusting a position of the projection arrangement such that the structured light pattern defines a desired image region on the skin surface; and
capturing data using the camera, wherein the data includes at least one image including structured light data.

### Claim 27 (depends on 25)

The method of claim 25 wherein the structured light pattern includes a plurality of fan beams.

### Claim 28 (depends on 25)

The method of claim 25 wherein the fan beams include at least three fan beams crossing at a crossing point.

### Claim 29 (depends on 25)

The method of claim 25 wherein the method further comprises determining a depth, area, and/or volume of the anatomical surface feature based on the structured light data.