Method and system for imaging and collection of data for diagnostic purposes

Abstract

A system for fluorescence-based imaging of a target includes at least one excitation light source configured to emit a homogeneous field of excitation light and positioned to uniformly illuminate a target surface with the homogeneous field of excitation light during fluorescent imaging, a power source, and a portable housing configured to be held in a user's hand during imaging. The housing contains a lens, a filter, an image sensor, and a processor. The filter is configured to permit optical signals responsive to illumination of the target surface and having a wavelength corresponding to at least one of bacterial autofluorescence and tissue autofluorescence to pass through the filter to the image sensor. The at least one excitation light is adjacent to the housing so as to be positioned between the target surface and the image sensor during fluorescent imaging.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A portable, handheld device for outputting a representation of a wound in tissue, the device comprising:
 a housing configured to receive and secure a wireless communication device therein, the housing having a first surface a second surface opposite the first surface;   at least one light source configured to emit a field of excitation light, the at least one light source being coupled to the housing and configured to illuminate a target surface with the field of excitation light, the target surface including at least a portion of a wound and an area around the wound;   a power supply contained in the housing and configured to provide power to the at least one light source; and   a wireless communication device configured to be received in the housing and comprising:
 an image acquisition device having a sensor configured to detect signals responsive to illumination of the target surface, each signal indicative of at least one of endogenous fluorescence, exogenous fluorescence, absorbance, and reflectance from bacteria, fungus, yeast, and/or other microorganisms in the target surface; 
 a processor configured to receive the detected signals and to output a representation of the target surface based on the detected signals, wherein the processor is further configured to store, in a memory of the wireless communication device, data relative to at least one of wound topography, wound anatomy, wound area, wound depth, wound volume, wound margins, and/or necrotic tissue, based on the detected signals; and 
 a display configured to display the representation of the target surface output by the processor, 
   wherein the image acquisition device is configured to receive the signals responsive to the illumination of the target surface from a direction of the first surface of the housing, and the display is visible from a direction of the second surface of the housing.