Apparatus and method for mapped hair metric
AssigneeWilliam Rassman
InventorsWilliam Rassman, Jae P. Pak
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus for determining the status of hair bulk in an area of a scalp is operative to provide a metric over a sufficiently large area to permit revisiting with only negligible misalignment error. Accurate re-measurement of hair status in accurately identified areas produces a reliable metric for determining degree of hair loss and or the effectiveness of treatment.
Claims8
A method for determining a value of the degree of hair loss over a hair bearing area, using a digital imaging apparatus and a specially programmed processor for digital image processing to determine quantification and qualification output data and for algorithms for calculations using the output data, said method comprising the steps of obtaining a digital image of each of a sequence of fields of view corresponding to segments of a path or geographical area, said field of view having an area sufficient to permit revisiting said path or geographical area with only negligible averaging error relative to data available, generating an integrated digital data stream representative of the entire path or geographical area, manipulating the data stream to determine:
- 1) the number of hairs in said path or geographical area, 2) the diameter of each of said hairs, and 3) the sum of the cross sectional areas of said hair.
A method for determining a value of at least one metric that is indicative of hair loss over a hair bearing area, using a digital imaging apparatus and a specially programmed processor said method comprising the steps of:
- selecting a path or geographical area to be examined for hair loss;
- obtaining a digital image of each of a sequence of fields of view corresponding to segments of the path or geographical area, said field of view having an area sufficient to permit revisiting said path with only negligible averaging error,
- generating an integrated digital data stream representative of the image of said entire path or geographical area;
- digitally processing the digital data stream for extracting digital measurement data of selected hair quality and/or quantity data;
- using the extracted digital measurement data algorithmically determining a value of at least one selected metric according to an applicable algorithm or algorithms:
- providing a sensible output or recordation of the value of the at least one metric.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.