Patent Application
20050146863
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
The present invention relates generally to a mirrored epiluminescence device used primarily in personal hygiene. More particularly, the invention comprises an improved mirror for illuminating the skin for personal hygiene and for examination of the skin by another person providing cross-polarized and parallel-polarized light to aid in viewing differing features of the skin.
Personal hygiene mirrors are a part of every day life to view the face for a variety of reasons. Most significantly, personal hygiene mirrors are used for a self examination of the skin as an aid in improving personal appearance by detecting facial flaws associated with the skin. Identifying problem areas of the skin, the user can then cosmetically address the problems to self-applied hygiene products.
Common personal hygiene mirrors are typically oval or circular supported by a handle or support stand. To improve viewing of the skin, mirrors may include lights embedded within a housing surrounding the mirror to direct light upon the face to aid in viewing the skin. Illuminated mirror manufacturers have devised a variety of methods for illuminating the face of a person positioned close to the mirror. One method positions one or more light sources around the periphery of the mirror. Another approach utilizes an annular light diffuser ring that encircles a mirror in an attempt to evenly distribute the light upon the face. Other solutions include use of a ring-shaped fluorescent light that encircles the entire mirror. Various methods of illuminating mirrors are discussed in the U.S. Pat. No. 6,158,877 entitled “Magnifying Mirror Having Focused Annular illuminator”, issued Dec. 12, 2000, the substance of which is incorporated herein by reference.
A problem inherent to all of the aforementioned illuminated mirrors is the glare associated with the skin's surface impeding the user from visualizing the skin in a more detailed manner. Methods used to reduce the surface reflection from the skin are known in the medical field and are generally referred to as epiluminescence imaging. Cross-polarization or orthogonal polarization is one method of reducing the reflection of the light from the surface of the skin to aid in the examination of the skin. Light emanating from a light source is first linearly polarized, so that the orientation of the light falling on the skin surface is in the same plane of polarization. As the light enters the skin, its polarization angle changes such that the light is reflected from a deeper structure. However, the light reflected from the surface of the skin is still polarized in the same plane as the incident light. By including a second polarizer in the path of the reflected light from the skin, a selective filtering of light can be achieved.
Most of the light directed to the skin's surface is reflected back to the viewer as the refractive index of skin is higher than that of air. The reflection of light, off of the skin, is analogous to the reflection of light off of the surface of water. Accordingly, the information received by the eye carries mostly information about the contour of the skin surface rather than the deeper structures. Remaining light enters the skin and is absorbed or is reflected back in a scattered fashion. By polarizing the incident light with a second of polarizer, the specular component of the reflected light is blocked by the viewing polarizer, thus producing an enhanced view below the skin surface. Accordingly, inflammation, color, pigmentation, hair follicles and blood vessels may be viewed.
When the incident light and the second polarizer are parallel, the surface topography and properties of the skin are highlighted and enhanced. In this regard, if the polarizer in the path of the light from the skin to the eye is polarized in the same orientation of the incident light, only the light from its polarization angle will be viewed. Cross-polarization imaging of the body skin was originally described by R. R. Anderson (“Polarized light examination and photography of the skin.” Archives Dermatology 1991; 127; 1000-1005), the substance of which is incorporated herein by reference.
An example of constructive application of cross-polarization epiluminescence in the medical field is embodied in a device identified as DermLite®, manufactured and marketed by 3Gen, LLC. of Monarch Beach, Calif. With this low cost and easy to use DermLite® Device, screening for cancer by dermatologists in routine clinical examination of skin disease has become a reality. The DermLite® device uses cross-polarization epiluminescence imaging through use of white light emitting diodes (LEDs), a high magnification lens (10×), and a lithium ion battery contained in a small lightweight device.
In the DermLite® device, a window is incorporated into a compact housing and a plurality of white light LEDs encircle a magnifying lens. The DermLite® device incorporates cross-polarization filters that reduce the reflection of light from the surface of the skin and permits visualization of the deeper skin structures. Light from eight (8) LEDs is polarized linearly by a polarizer, which is annular in shape and located in front of the LEDs. The imaging viewed through the magnifying lens is also linearly polarized by using a polarizer that is located in front of the lens. The LEDs have a narrow beam angle that concentrates the light into a small area, pointing the incident light to the center to increase the brightness of the area being viewed. Thus, light from the LEDs passes through the polarizer which enters the skin and reflects back through the viewing polarizer to create cross-polarization allowing examination to look deeper within the skin structure. The DermLite® Platinum™ product, also manufactured by 3Gen, LLC. was developed to provide variable polarization. Variable polarization is achieved by a rotating dial. Rotation of the polarizer to a cross-polarization cancels out the surface reflection for an in-depth look at the deeper pigmentation and lesion structures. Rotation to parallel polarization allows a clear view of the skin surface. The DermLite® Pro DP-R™ also manufactured by 3gen, LLC, was developed to provide instant, button activated, polarization control. Embodiments of the DermLite® Pro DP-R™ are disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/384,110 filed Mar. 7, 2003, the substance of which is incorporated herein by reference. Variable mode polarization is provided by a toggle switch that allows the viewer to view the surface of the skin using a polarizing mode, and a switch creates a cross polarization which cancels out surface reflection for a view of the deeper pigmentation and structures of the skin.
Although, the DermLite®, DermLite® Platinum™ and DermLite® Pro DP-R™ products have been recognized as a major advancement in the art of routing clinical diagnosis and analysis of skin cancer lesions, the DermLite® and DermLite® Platinum™ devices do not provide a mechanism for self-examination of facial skin for cosmetic and/or medical purposes. Thus, there is a great need in the art for a mirror device that will allow self-examination of facial skin for cosmetic and/or medical purposes employing cross-polarized imaging and parallel-polarized imaging and a combination of both. Further there is a great need in the art for a mirror device for self-examination of facial skin that employs cross-polarization and parallel-polarization using epiflourescence with white light and colored or UV light in order to contrast facial skin.
The present invention relates to an illuminated personal hygiene mirror viewing facial skin or other areas of the body. In the first embodiment, a hand-held frame receives and supports a mirror. The mirror is covered with a polarizer for polarizing any reflected light thereon. A plurality of spaced luminous diodes are positioned within the frame about the periphery of the mirror. Each of the luminous diodes have a polarized filter for polarizing light emitted from the diodes. Polarizing filter for the luminous diodes is polarized out of phase with the polarized surface of the mirror. In operation, polarized light emitted from the diode falling upon the face of the user is reflected from the mirror surface to the eye of the user as cross-polarized light. An integral handle supports the frame in the mirror to be held by the user when viewing facial skin.
A second embodiment of the present invention includes all of the components of the first embodiment, except that the mirror provided therein is a two-way mirror reflecting light back to the user, but also allowing a user situated behind the mirror to also view the subject's skin. In this regard, the frame incorporates a removable back so that the invention can operate as a hand-held mirror for a single user, or may additionally be utilized to allow a from behind the mirror viewer to also view the facial skin when the back is removed.
A third embodiment of the present invention provides a frame for receiving and supporting a mirror. The mirror incorporates a polarized surface for reflecting polarized light back to the user, said polarized surface having a first plane of polarization. A first illumination source comprises a plurality of spaced illumines diodes positioned upon the frame about the periphery of the mirror, each of the diodes having a polarizing filter having a second plane polarization. The second illuminated source is positioned within the frame, and between the diodes of the first illumination source to form an alternating series of diodes about the mirror. In operation, when polarized light falls upon the face of the user from the first illuminated source, it is reflected from the polarized mirror to the eye of the user as cross-polarized light, and non-polarized light falling on the face of the user from the second illumination source is reflected from the polarized mirror to the eye of the user as polarized light. The mirror of the third embodiment further comprises a switch having a first mode for initiating the first illumination source, a second mode for initiating a second illumination source and a third mode for initiating said first and second illumination sources simultaneously. It is contemplated by the third embodiment of the present invention that the first luminous diodes and second luminous diodes of the first and second illumination sources each have differing color wave lengths. Further, where the light of different colored wave lengths are utilized, the filter may be optionally used.
The fourth embodiment of the present invention includes all the components of the third embodiment of the present invention except that the mirror is a two-way mirror reflecting light back to the user, as well as allowing the viewer behind the mirror to view the surface of the user's skin. In this regard, the frame includes a removable back that allows the mirror to be used as a one-way mirror when the back is inserted into the frame, and as a two-way mirror when the back is removed.
In a fifth embodiment of the present invention, all the components of the first embodiment are employed, except that the light source is comprised of a circular fluorescent tube. In a sixth embodiment, all of the components of the fifth embodiment are incorporated except that the mirror is two-way mirror, and that the mirror frame has a removable back to allow viewing from the rear of the mirror.
In a seventh embodiment, all the of the components of the first embodiment are employed but the polarized mirror is rotationally positionable within the frame such that the polarization of the mirror and the polarized light source, may be aligned in either a parallel or orthogonal relationship. A small handle protrudes from the side of the frame to allow movement of the polarized mirror for the selected polarization. The eighth embodiment, is structurally identical to the seventh embodiment except that the mirror employed is a two-way mirror for reflection on the front of the mirror, and viewing from behind the mirror. Accordingly, the mirror frame has a removable backing that allows the mirror to be used conventionally, or with a viewer positioned behind the mirror.
Features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reference to the drawings wherein:
The detailed description as set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of the presently preferred embodiments of the present invention, and does not represent the only embodiment of the present invention. It is understood that various modifications to the invention may be comprised by different embodiments and are also encompassed within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
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Reflected light from the user's skin 26 is cross-polarized by reflecting from the mirror 18 through the mirror polarizer 20 to provide cross-polarized reflection light 28 to the eye of the user. In this regard, polarized light from the diodes 16 falling upon the face of the user is reflected from the polarized mirror (18 and 22 in combination) to the eye of the user as cross-polarized light. It is contemplated that the respective planes of polarization of the filter 22 and filter 20 are in orthogonal relationship providing cross-polarized light. It is additionally contemplated by the present invention that the polarized filters 22 and 20 could be in parallel polarization providing a parallel polarized light to the eye of the user. It is further contemplated by the present invention that the respective plane polarization between the filters 22 and filter 20 are not orthogonal or parallel, but may range from 0 to 90 degrees. It is additionally contemplated in this embodiment, and other described herein that the various filters may be colored filters providing differing views. A switch 30 is provided to allow the manual initiation of the luminous diodes to either on or off positions.
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The mirror 18 as contemplated by the present invention, is a flat mirror with a polarizing filter 20 affixed to the surface of mirror 18. The filter 20 lays over the mirror 18 and is held in place by the frame 14. It is contemplated, in this embodiment and others described herein that the filter 20 could be a coating on the mirror 18. The mirror 18 is contemplated to be a flat reflecting mirror. It is additionally contemplated that the mirror 18 in this embodiment and in all embodiments described herein, could be magnified having a curved surface for purposes of magnification. It is additionally contemplated that the mirror 18 in this embodiment and in all embodiments described herein, could be a variable magnifying mirror which provide varying degrees of magnification. It is also contemplated in this embodiment and others described herein that a magnifying lens could be incorporated in the viewing area to provide magnification.
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The fourth embodiment, there are two illumination sources namely the even luminous diodes on a first electrical circuit which are illuminated by switch 94. The odd diodes are on a separate single circuit, and are additionally operable by switch 94. The switch may additionally operate both odd and even diodes simultaneously. The polarizing filter 88 is an annular ring defining a generally circular center opening 89 and an outer ring. The center opening 89 of the annular ring filter 88 as positioned in alignment with the mirror 76 in filter 86 to provide unobstructed reflected light from the mirror 62 to the user. The outer ring of polarizer 88 includes a plurality of openings 96 sized and positioned to correspond with the luminous diodes of the second illumination source (i.e. every other diode of the second light source) such that light emitted from the luminous diodes 82 on the second illumination source passes through the openings unfiltered by the polarizer 88. Because there are no corresponding openings for the diodes of the first illumination source (i.e. every other diode on the first light circuit) light emitted from the first light diode is polarized by polarizer 88. In this regard, a user can toggle between cross-polarized light and polarized light. Both sets of LEDs are preferably white high output indium gallium nitrite LEDs, however any suitable lighting diodes are appropriate. The alternating diodes can be alternating white light and UV/blue diodes. Lighting using the UV/blue light image with a white light image, a user can use a “flicker” method of imaging to notice contrasting views of the skin. It is additionally contemplated any two sets of LEDs used with the illumination source of the second illumination source may have different color wave lengths.
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The polarized filter 100 is affixed to the surface of the mirror 102. The filter 100 lays over the mirror 102 and is held in place by frame 104. It is contemplated however, that the filter 100 could be a coating on the mirror 102. The mirror 102 is contemplated to be a flat reflecting mirror. It is additionally contemplated that the mirror could be magnified having a curved surface for purposes of magnification. It is additionally contemplated that the mirror 102, in this embodiment and all other embodiments described herein, could be magnified having a curved surface for purposes of magnification. It is additionally contemplated that the mirror 102, in this embodiment and all others described herein, could be a variable magnifying mirror which provides varying degrees of magnification. It is additionally contemplated by this embodiment as other embodiments herein, that a magnifying lens could be incorporated in the view area of the mirror to provide magnification.
An integrally formed handle 114 is attached to the frame 104. Although the handle 114 is integrally formed with the frame 104, it is contemplated by this embodiment, and other embodiments described herein, that the handle 114 may be detachable, or alternatively replaced with a mirror stand or wall attachment.
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It should be noted and understood that with respect to the embodiments of the present invention, the materials suggested may be modified or substituted to achieve the general overall resultant high efficiency. The substitution of materials or dimensions remains within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
