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 - 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . An apparatus including:
 a 3-D camera for capturing three-dimensional data of a patient's skin surface including an anatomical surface feature;   a display configured to display a two-dimensional representation of the patient's skin surface including the anatomical surface feature, and to enable a user to input at least a portion of an outline of the anatomical surface feature on the display, to create a two-dimensional outline of the anatomical surface feature;   a processor configured to:
 map the two-dimensional outline into the three-dimensional data; 
 based on the three-dimensional data and mapped outline, determine one or more of:
 surface feature depth, surface feature area and surface feature volume; and 
 
   the display being further configured to display one or more of the determined surface feature depth, determined surface feature area and determined surface feature volume.   
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 35  wherein the 3-D camera is a stereoscopic 3-D camera. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 35  wherein the 3-D camera is attached to a portable device that includes the display. 
     
     
         38 . An apparatus including:
 a camera for capturing data of a patient's skin surface including an anatomical surface feature;   a processor configured to:
 create a three-dimensional model of the skin surface including the anatomical surface feature, based on the captured data; 
 map a two-dimensional outline of the anatomical surface feature onto the three-dimensional model; 
 based on the three-dimensional model and mapped outline, determine one or more of: surface feature depth, surface feature area and surface feature volume; and 
   a display configured to display one or more of the determined surface feature depth, determined surface feature area and determined surface feature volume.   
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 38  wherein the camera is attached to a portable device that includes the display. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 38  wherein the camera is a 3-D camera configured to capture three-dimensional data of the patient's skin surface including the anatomical surface feature. 
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 40  wherein the 3-D camera is a stereoscopic 3-D camera. 
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 38  further including a structured light arrangement configured to project one or more structured light elements onto the skin surface, the camera capturing image data including the structured light elements. 
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , the display being configured to display a two-dimensional representation of the patient's skin surface including the anatomical surface feature, and to enable a user to input at least a portion of an outline of the anatomical surface feature on the display, to create the two-dimensional outline of the anatomical surface feature. 
     
     
         44 . A method of assessing an anatomical surface feature on a skin surface of a patient, including:
 capturing data of the skin surface including the anatomical surface feature;   based on the captured data, creating a three-dimensional model of the skin surface including the anatomical surface feature;   creating a two-dimensional outline of the anatomical surface feature;   mapping the two-dimensional outline onto the three-dimensional model;   based on the three-dimensional model and mapped outline, determining one or more of:
 surface feature depth, surface feature area and surface feature volume; and 
   displaying one or more of the determined surface feature depth, determined surface feature area and determined surface feature volume.   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44  wherein capturing data includes capturing three-dimensional data of the patient's skin surface including an anatomical surface feature. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45  wherein capturing three-dimensional data includes capturing three-dimensional image data. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46  wherein capturing three-dimensional image data includes capturing data with a 3-D camera. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47  wherein the 3-D camera is a stereoscopic 3-D camera. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 44  wherein capturing data includes capturing image data including one or more structured light elements. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 44  including displaying a two-dimensional representation of the skin surface including the anatomical surface feature to a user on a display, wherein creating the two-dimensional outline of the anatomical surface feature includes enabling the user to input at least a portion of the outline. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50  wherein creating the two-dimensional outline includes enabling the user to adjust the outline manually by selecting and moving a portion of the outline to change the position of the portion relative to the displayed two-dimensional representation of the anatomical surface feature, thereby creating a revised two-dimensional outline of the anatomical surface feature; and mapping the revised two-dimensional outline into the three-dimensional data.