Method, system, software, and device for remote, miniaturized, and three-dimensional imaging and analysis of human lesions research and clinical applications thereof

Abstract

A system for the imaging and analysis of human lesions having an illumination component, an imaging sensor, a tunable liquid imaging lens, and driver controlling different focal length settings of the electrically tunable liquid imaging lens. An enclosure houses the tunable liquid imaging lens, the illumination component, and the imaging sensor. The tunable liquid imaging lens has either a bendable lens membrane allowing the focal length to be controlled by fluid pressure, or the tunable liquid imaging lens includes two transparent liquids that are placed between two electrodes to control the focal length. An imaging sensor captures lesion images within a fraction of a second from each other across a range of focus settings to produce a single, sharp, all-focus image.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for the imaging and analysis of human lesions, comprising:
 an illumination component emitting light with a specific wavelength;   an imaging sensor;   a tunable liquid imaging lens having a bendable lens membrane, wherein a focal length of the tunable liquid imaging lens is controlled by fluid pressure on the bendable lens membrane so that as the fluid pressure is adjusted, multiple focal lengths are achieved, and the imaging sensor captures a snapshot at each focal length setting; or the tunable liquid imaging lens includes two transparent liquids that are placed between two electrodes, one of the two transparent liquids being hydrophobic, wherein an electric field between the electrodes changes the shape of the hydrophobic liquid droplet included within, which in turn changes the focal length of the tunable liquid imaging lens, and the imaging sensor captures a snapshot at each focal length setting;   an enclosure housing the tunable liquid imaging lens, the illumination component, and the imaging sensor; and   a driver accompanying the electrically tunable liquid imaging lens, wherein the driver is configured to control the effective focus of the electrically tunable liquid imaging lens, enabling the imaging sensor to capture lesion images within a fraction of a second from each other across a range of focus settings in order to produce a single, sharp, all-focus image.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , where the wavelength illumination component is infrared. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , where the wavelength illumination component is ultraviolet. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1 , where the wavelength emitted by the illumination component is visible. 
     
     
         5 . tem according to  claim 1 , where the tunable lens used is two to twenty millimeters in diameter. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 , where the tunable lens used is less than two millimeters in diameter. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , where the tunable lens, illumination component, and sensor are housed in an enclosure encircled by a plastic balloon that can be inflated or deflated, and increased or decreased in size, through the application of air pressure. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the system is configured to image skin, cervical, mouth, throat, and anal cancers as the imaged human lesions. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the system is configured to image infected wounds and traumatic injury wounds as the imaged human lesions. 
     
     
         10 . ice according to  claim 1 , where the lens used comprises a fiber-optic bundle with a smaller, miniature, tunable lens attached to the tip. 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 1 , where the system utilizes spectroscopic imaging. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 1 , where the system is used to take three-dimensional images of lesions throughout the human body, including confined spaces.