Method of monitoring a surface feature and apparatus therefor

Abstract

Dimensions of a surface feature are determined by capturing an image of the surface feature and determining a scale associated with the image. Structured light may be projected onto the surface, such that the position of structured light in the captured image allows determination of scale. A non-planar surface may be unwrapped. The surface may alternatively be projected into a plane to correct for the scene being tilted with respect to the camera axis. A border of the surface feature may be input manually by a user. An apparatus and system for implementing the method are also disclosed.

1 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A computer-implemented method for evaluating an anatomical surface feature, the method comprising:
 receiving, at a portable computing device, image data from an image sensor operatively coupled to the portable computing device, wherein the image data characterizes the surface feature;   receiving, at the portable computing device, depth data from a structured light device operatively coupled to the portable computing device, wherein the depth data characterizes the surface feature;   determining an area of the surface feature and at least one of a depth of the surface feature and a volume of the surface feature based on the image data and the depth data; and   displaying the area and the at least one of the depth and the volume of the surface feature on a display of the portable computing device.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising determining an outline of the surface feature, and wherein determining the area and the at least one of the depth and the volume are based on the image data, the depth data, and the outline. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising storing at least one of the image data, the depth data, the area of the surface feature, the at least one of the depth and the volume of the surface feature, and the outline of the surface feature at a database remote from the portable computing device. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising comparing at least one of the image data, the depth data, the area of the surface feature, the at least one of the depth and the volume of the surface feature, and the outline of the surface feature to a corresponding, previously obtained data set. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32  wherein determining the outline of the surface feature includes automatically processing the image data. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein determining the outline of the surface feature includes receiving, at the portable computing device, data characterizing a user-drawn outline of the surface feature. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 31  wherein determining the area and the at least one of the depth and the volume of the surface feature occurs at the portable computing device. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 31  wherein determining the area and the at least one of the depth and the volume of the surface feature occurs at a remote server in communication with the portable computing device. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising generating a three-dimensional model of the surface feature. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the structured light device is configured to emit structured light towards the surface feature. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the structured light device and the portable computing device are separate components, and the structured light device is coupled to the portable computing device via a wired connection. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the image sensor is integrated with the portable computing device. 
     
     
         43 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform a method for evaluating an anatomical surface feature, the method comprising:
 receiving, at a portable computing device, image data from an image sensor operatively coupled to the portable computing device, wherein the image data characterizes the surface feature;   receiving, at the portable computing device, depth data from a structured light device operatively coupled to the portable computing device, wherein the depth data characterizes the surface feature;   determining an area of the surface feature and at least one of a volume of the surface feature and a depth on the surface feature based on the image data and the depth data; and   displaying the area and the at least one of the depth and the volume of the surface feature on a display of the portable computing device.   
     
     
         44 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 43 , the method further comprising determining an outline of the surface feature, and wherein determining the area and the at least one of the depth and the volume are based on the image data, the depth data, and the outline. 
     
     
         45 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 44 , the method further comprising storing at least one of the image data, the depth data, the area of the surface feature, the at least one of the depth and the volume of the surface feature, and the outline of the surface feature at a database remote from the portable computing device. 
     
     
         46 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 44 , the method further comprising comparing at least one of the image data, the depth data, the area of the surface feature, the at least one of the depth and the volume of the surface feature, and the outline of the surface feature to a corresponding, previously obtained data set. 
     
     
         47 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 44  wherein determining the outline of the surface feature includes automatically processing the image data. 
     
     
         48 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 44  wherein determining the outline of the surface feature includes receiving, at the portable computing device, data characterizing a user-drawn outline of the surface feature. 
     
     
         49 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 43  wherein determining the area and the at least one of the depth and the volume of the surface feature occurs at the portable computing device. 
     
     
         50 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 43  wherein determining the area and the at least one of the depth and the volume of the surface feature occurs at a remote server in communication with the portable computing device. 
     
     
         51 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 43 , the method further comprising generating a three-dimensional model of the surface feature. 
     
     
         52 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 43  wherein the structured light device is configured to emit light towards the surface feature. 
     
     
         53 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 43  wherein the structured light device and the portable computing device are separate components, and the structured light device is coupled to the portable computing device via a wired connection. 
     
     
         54 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 43  wherein the image sensor is integrated with the portable computing device. 
     
     
         55 . A computer-implemented method for evaluating an anatomical surface feature, the method comprising:
 receiving, at a portable computing device, image data from an image sensor operatively coupled to the portable computing device, wherein the image data characterizes the surface feature;   receiving, at the portable computing device, depth data from a structured light device operatively coupled to the portable computing device, wherein the depth data characterizes the surface feature;   determining an area of the surface feature based on the image data and the depth data; and   displaying the area of the surface feature on a display of the portable computing device.   
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , further comprising determining a depth of the surface feature based on the image data and the depth data. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 55 , further comprising determining a volume of the surface feature based on the image data and the depth data. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 55 , further comprising determining an outline of the surface feature based on the image data. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 55  wherein determining the area of the surface feature is based on a known positional relationship between the image sensor and the depth sensor. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 55 , further including storing at least one of the image data, the depth data, and the area of the surface feature at a database remote from the portable computing device.