Abstract: Among other things, a texture of an image is characterized by deriving lacunarity measures from the image based on a wavelet analysis.

Abstract: Data corresponding to biological tissue or lesions imaged in a remote location are communicated automatically to a central location, where the data are analyzed using data and algorithms stored securely at the central location. A result of the analysis is communicated from the central location to the remote location. Payment to an entity associated with the central location is made for each image or set of images.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for accounting for dark current in the output of an imaging array is presented. A dark current monitor on the monolithic semiconductor imaging array is provided. The dark current monitor may be darkened pixels of the imaging array, darkened pixels of another array, or a temperature monitor and associated circuitry necessary to calculate relative dark current from the monitored temperature.

Abstract: A face of a tooth is illuminated with light obtained from an injection laser with a defined coherence, wherein the illuminating light impinging on the face of the tooth has less than the defined coherence. Light propagating from the illuminated face and scattered until it exits from another face of the tooth is captured to form an image of the other face of the tooth.

Abstract: An apparatus for holding an optical system in a reproducible position with respect to a tooth in a mouth is presented. The apparatus has a body with a light source attached to a prong by a spring, and the prong contacts the proximal surface of the tooth.

Abstract: A set of lens elements is assembled to form a lens by adjusting a first and a second lens element in a spaced apart optical relationship with respect to each other, then affixing the two elements in the spaced apart optical relationship by affixing a lens element holder to at least the second lens element. Further lens elements are assembled in turn and affixed in spaced apart optical relationship to the preceding lens elements to form a finished lens.

Abstract: An means for blocking light reflected from the surface of a tooth from the imaging system while imaging light transilluminated through the tooth is presented.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for uniform illumination of an object is presented. A plurality of light sources is adjusted relative to a base in order to give a defined illumination pattern with respect to the base. Then, the light sources are rigidly affixed to the base.

Abstract: A compact wavelength division demultiplexer device comprises two cascaded interferometers the wedge angle of whose mirrors are orthogonal to each other, i.e., the two interferometers are oriented such that the dispersion of light with wavelength from the second interferometer is orthogonal to the dispersion of light with wavelength from the first interferometer. The incoming beam of laser light carrying n sub-bands of m information channels is collimated and applied to the first interferometer whose free spectral range is determined by the total bandwidth required by the n×m channels and whose finesse is determined by the resolution needed to spatially separate each of the n sub-bands from one another. The light leaving the first interferometer enters the second interferometer whose wedge angle is at 90 degrees to the plane of the wedge angle of the first interferometer.

Abstract: An elastomeric locator held against a proximal surface of the tooth and against the gum holds a light source and imaging optics in a reproducible position for imaging a tooth in vivo.

Abstract: A light image is conveyed from a biological tissue through a flexible optical system to an image receiver, where it is converted to a form which may be entered into a computer. The computer segments the image by generating a segmentation mask defining the boundary of a region of interest in at least one spectral band, estimates at least one rotationally and translationally invariant statistical measure of coefficient distributions of the multiscale wavelet maxima representations of the digital images in at least one spectral band, characterizes the condition of the tissue based on the estimated values, and outputs the characterization of the condition of the tissue.

Abstract: An injection molded light pipe having a sharp curve is proposed, wherein the injection molding mark is on the inside surface of the sharp curve. The light pipe has a 180° curve with a radius of curvature less than approximately 3 times the diameter of the light pipe.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the multispectral imaging of skin tissue enables automatic characterization of the condition of a region of interest of the skin, based on direct digital imaging of the region of interest or the digitization of color photographic slides of the region of interest, illuminated by appropriately filtered light. Preferably, a digital image at a low spectral band is automatically segmented and that segmented mask is used to segment the other images by a digital processor. Parameters related to the texture, asymmetry, blotchiness and border irregularities are also automatically estimated. The region of interest is automatically characterized by the digital processor, based on those parameters. The region of interest may include a skin lesion, in which case the present invention enables the characterization of the lesion as malignant or benign.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for imaging teeth includes illuminating a surface of a tooth and electronically imaging the tooth from a non-illuminated surface of the tooth with an electronic camera. Automatic control of the intensity of illumination is preferably provided to avoid saturation of the camera. The camera may include a charge-coupled-device and the resulting digital images are preferably enhanced by wavelet analysis. If a video camera is used, the images may be digitized and then enhanced. Current images of the tooth may be compared to prior images of the same tooth to monitor changes in the tooth over time. The images can be used to detect dental caries and other dental conditions. A handpiece for illuminating the tooth and receiving the light passing through the tooth for reception by the camera in a reproducible manner, is also described.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the multispectral imaging of skin tissue enables automatic characterization of the condition of a region of interest of the skin, based on direct digital imaging of the region of interest or the digitization of color photographic slides of the region of interest, illuminated by appropriately filtered light. Preferably, a digital image at a low spectral band is automatically segmented and that segmented mask is used to segment the other images by a digital processor. Parameters are estimated through wavelet maxima representations. Parameters related to the texture, asymmetry, blotchiness and border irregularities are also automatically estimated. The region of interest is automatically characterized by the digital processor, based on those parameters. The region of interest may include a skin lesion, in which case the present invention enables the characterization of the lesion as malignant or benign. The region of interest may also include wounds or burns.

Abstract: Common path, two beam interferometers and interferometric measurement systems employ a voltage controlled variable phase retarder enabling rapid stepping of the relative phase between two interfering optical beams by suitable control of the voltage. The beams need not be laterally separated. A compact beam expander with a ball lens is preferably included. The system is compact enough to be contained in a hand-held unit. The system can be used for surface mapping, testing of optical components and detecting the motion of mechanical objects, for example. It is particularly well suited for the mapping of the skin of a live subject. An optimum fringe period and optimum illumination wavelengths for imaging skin are disclosed, enabling the topography of substantial areas of human skin to be rapidly and accurately measured, in times on the order of one-tenth of a second. Methods of conducting interferometric analysis are disclosed, as well.

Abstract: The invention consists of a method of redirecting light to improve the transmission efficiency of wedged multibeam interferometers, either individually or in cascade with other interferometers. Optical fibers are placed to direct reflected light into such positions which enable iterated transmission of this otherwise wasted light through the interferometer. The increased light coupling efficiency provided by the method makes it well suited for applications to fiber optic communication links, fiber optic Bragg sensors, ladars and lidars.