Optical sensor and method for identifying the presence of skin
View Patent ↗A sensor for detecting the presence of skin is disclosed, one configuration of which uses multiple light emitting diodes, each of a unique wavelength band, and a broad-band photodetector to measure the remission of light at multiple wavelengths from a material being analyzed. Characteristics of the spectral remission of the material are used to discriminate human skin from materials that are not human skin. Further, an aesthetic medical device utilizing such a sensor in which the device is inhibited from operation if skin has not been detected. The incorporation of a skin sensor improves the safety of devices that emit radiation that otherwise would pose a hazard if not directed onto skin.
1. A dermatological treatment device comprising:
an enclosed radiation chamber defined by:
a radiation chamber housing,
an output window at a first end of the radiation chamber housing and configured to be placed against a surface;
a radiation source mount located at a second end of the radiation chamber housing opposite the first end,
a source of treatment radiation supported by the radiation source mount at the second end of the radiation chamber and configured to emit treatment radiation though the enclosed radiation chamber and out through the output window, the treatment radiation configured to produce a fluence sufficient to provide a dermatological treatment; and
a sensor system comprising:
a sensor radiation source distinct from the source of treatment radiation and configured to emit radiation through the enclosed radiation chamber housing and toward the surface through the same output window, as the treatment radiation, and
a sensor detector configured to detect sensor radiation emitted by the sensor radiation source and remitted by the surface,
wherein the sensor radiation source and the sensor detector are arranged in openings defined in the radiation chamber, and
wherein the sensor system configured to:
measure radiation remitted via the surface; and
control delivery of treatment radiation to the surface based on the measured remitted radiation.
2. The dermatological treatment device of claim 1 , wherein the source of treatment radiation is configured to produce a fluence through said treatment aperture sufficient to provide a dermatological treatment selected from the group consisting of: at least temporary inhibition of the regrowth of unwanted hair, treatment of acne, and repigmentation of skin.
3. The dermatological treatment device of claim 1 , wherein:
the sensor system is configured to:
measure radiation remitted via the surface in multiple wavelength bands; and
control delivery of treatment radiation to the surface based on the measured remitted radiation in the multiple wavelength bands, including:
determining at least one spectral remittance of the surface based on the measured remitted radiation in the multiple wavelength bands; and
controlling delivery of treatment radiation to the surface based on the at least one determined spectral remittance.
4. The dermatological treatment device of claim 1 , wherein:
the sensor system is configured to:
measure radiation remitted via the surface in multiple wavelength bands; and
control delivery of treatment radiation to the surface based on the measured remitted radiation in the multiple wavelength bands, including:
determining at least one spectral remittance of the surface based on the measured remitted radiation in the multiple wavelength bands;
comparing the at least one spectral remittance of the surface with at least one reference spectral remittance; and
controlling delivery of treatment radiation to the surface based on the results of the comparison.
5. The dermatological treatment device of claim 4 , wherein:
determining at least one spectral remittance of the surface based on the measured remitted radiation in the multiple wavelength bands comprises determining a spectral remittance of the surface for each wavelength band based on the measured remitted radiation in that wavelength band; and
comparing the at least one spectral remittance of the surface with at least one reference spectral remittance comprises comparing the spectral remittance for each wavelength band with a reference spectral remittance corresponding to that wavelength band.
6. The dermatological treatment device of claim 4 , wherein the at least one reference spectral remittance comprises at least one reference spectral remittance indicative of skin.
7. The dermatolotical treatment device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor system is configured to:
determine, based on the measured remitted radiation in multiple wavelength bands, whether the surface is skin; and
control delivery of treatment radiation to the surface based on whether the surface is determined to be skin.
8. The dermatological treatment device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor system comprises:
at least one broad-band radiation source; and
multiple detectors responsive to different wavelength bands.
9. The dermatological treatment device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor system comprises:
the one or more radiation sources being configured to emit radiation in multiple different wavelength bands; and
multiple detectors responsive to different wavelength bands.
10. The dermatological treatment device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor system is configured to emit radiation in multiple different wavelength simultaneously.
11. The dermatological treatment device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor system is configured to emit radiation in multiple different wavelength bands is emitted at different times.
12. The dermatological treatment device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor system is configured to emit radiation in multiple wavelength bands separated from each other.
13. The dermatological treatment device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor system is configured to emit radiation in at least three different wavelength bands.
14. A dermatological treatment device comprising:
a source of treatment radiation and positioned to deliver radiation through a treatment radiation chamber and through a unitary outlet window configured to be placed against a surface; and
a sensor system for analyzing a surface for treatment by a dermatological treatment device, the sensor system comprising:
one or more emitters configured to emit radiation onto a surface;
one or more detectors configured to receive radiation remitted via the surface;
a processor configured to:
measure the received remitted radiation in at least one wavelength band;
determine at least one spectral remittance of the surface based on the measured remitted radiation in the at least one wavelength band;
compare the at least one spectral remittance of the surface with at least one reference spectral remittance; and
control the dermatological treatment device based on the measured remitted radiation,
wherein the one or more emitters of the sensor system are distinct from the source of treatment radiation and arranged to emit sensor system radiation through an annular sensor system chamber extending around the treatment radiation chamber and physically separated from the treatment radiation chamber by an annular wall, and
wherein the unitary outlet window extends over an outlet end of the annular sensor system chamber, such that the sensor system radiation is emitted through the same unitary outlet window as the treatment radiation.
15. The dermatological treatment device of claim 14 , wherein:
determining at least one spectral remittance of the surface based on the measured remitted radiation in the at least one wavelength band comprises determining a spectral remittance of the surface for each wavelength band based on the measured remitted radiation in that wavelength band; and
comparing the at least one spectral remittance of the surface with at least one reference spectral remittance comprises comparing the spectral remittance for each wavelength band with a reference spectral remittance corresponding to that wavelength band.
16. The dermatological treatment device of claim 14 , wherein the at least one reference spectral remittance comprises at least one reference spectral remittance indicative of skin.
17. The dermatological treatment device of claim 14 , wherein the sensor system is configured to:
determine, based on the comparison of the at least one spectral remittance of the surface with the at least one reference spectral remittance, whether the surface is skin; and
control the dermatological treatment device based on whether the surface is determined to be skin.
18. The dermatological treatment device of claim 14 , wherein:
the one or more emitters of the sensor system comprises at least one broad-band radiation source; and
the one or more detectors of the sensor system comprises multiple detectors responsive to different wavelength bands.
19. The dermatological treatment device of claim 14 , wherein the sensor system comprises:
the one or more emitters of the sensor system are configured to emit radiation in multiple different wavelength bands; and
the one or more detectors of the sensor system comprise multiple detectors responsive to the multiple different wavelength bands.
20. The dermatological treatment device of claim 14 , wherein the sensor system is configured to emit radiation in at least three different wavelength bands.