Abstract: A method of determining the dimensional characteristics of a biological object included: measuring without physical contact or disruption of sterility the length, width and height above or below a reference plane of the biological object with an optical distance measuring device thereby creating a data set; and processing the data set in a computer so as to determine the dimensional characteristics of the biological feature. Preferably the optical distance measuring means is a laser based distance measuring device and the storage of x axis values, y axis values and distance values is in the electronic memory of a computer. The biological surface may be a wound bed or a dermal surface, or alternatively the biological surface may be vascular tissue including heart valves, veins and arteries.