Abstract: A method of and apparatus for processing optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans through a subject's skin, the method comprising, using a computing device (1): receiving a plurality of OCT scans through the subject's skin (7), the OCT scans representing an OCT signal in slices through the subject's tissue; processing the OCT scans to determine a set of parameters; processing each parameter to determine a set of control settings for an energy-delivery device (20); transmitting the control settings from the computing device (1) to the energy-delivery device (20); in which the set of parameters comprises the depth of the superficial plexus (108) through the subject's skin (7).

Abstract: A treatment apparatus for treating a skin lesion on skin of a patient, the apparatus comprising a source of electromagnetic radiation (16), a guide (6, 20) to guide the electromagnetic radiation to the skin lesion (25) and a control apparatus (1), the control apparatus (1) being arranged so as to cause the source (16) and the guide (6, 20) to: provide an initial burst of electromagnetic radiation to the skin lesion (25) to heat it to a first temperature selected by the control apparatus (1); cease providing electromagnetic radiation to the skin lesion (25) for a period; and provide a further burst of electromagnetic radiation to the skin lesion (25) so as to maintain the temperature of the skin lesion within a temperature range selected by the control apparatus (1). The apparatus may comprise a temperature sensor (24) which detects the temperature of the patient's skin, typically the skin lesion.

Abstract: A method of processing optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans through a subject's skin, the method comprising: receiving at least a plurality of OCT scans through the subject's skin (7), each scan representing an OCT signal in a slice through the subject's skin (7), with the plurality of OCT scans being spaced apart such that the OCT scans represent the OCT signal through a volume through the subject's skin; processing each OCT scan using a processor so as to so as to detect at least one three dimensional structure in the skin; classifying, using a processor, the structure as belonging to a class of a plurality of classes of structures; and outputting at least one of the structure and the class.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for processing optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans through a subject's skin. The method includes receiving at least one OCT scan through the subject's skin, each scan representing an OCT signal in a slice through the subject's skin. Each OCT scan is processed so as to determine the presence of at least one blood vessel in each scan. A diameter is determined of at least one of the at least one blood vessels whose presence has been determined. A depth profile is determined of blood vessel density for different vessel diameters.

Abstract: A method of processing optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans, comprising: receiving OCT data comprising an OCT signal indicative of the level of scattering in a sample, the OCT data including the OCT signal for at least one scan through the sample, with the OCT signal having been measured at varying depth and position through the sample in each scan; processing the OCT data for each scan with depth to produce a indicative depth scan representative of the OCT signal at each depth through all of the scans; fitting a curve to the indicative depth scan, the curve comprising a first term which exponentially decays with respect to the depth and a second term which depends on the noise in the OCT signal; and calculating a compensated intensity for the OCT signal at each point through each scan, the compensated intensity comprising a ratio of a term comprising a logarithm of the OCT signal to a term comprising the logarithm of the fitted curve.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for processing optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans through a subject's skin. The method includes receiving at least one OCT scan through the subject's skin, each scan representing an OCT signal in a slice through the subject's skin. Each OCT scan is processed so as to determine the presence of at least one blood vessel in each scan. A diameter is determined of at least one of the at least one blood vessels whose presence has been determined. A depth profile is determined of blood vessel density for different vessel diameters.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for processing optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans through a subject's skin. The method includes receiving at least one OCT scan through the subject's skin, each scan representing an OCT signal in a slice through the subject's skin. Each OCT scan is processed so as to determine the presence of at least one blood vessel in each scan. A diameter is determined of at least one of the at least one blood vessels whose presence has been determined. A depth profile is determined of blood vessel density for different vessel diameters.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for processing optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans through a subject's skin, the method comprising, using a computing device (1): receiving a plurality of OCT scans through the subject's skin (7), the OCT scans representing an OCT signal in slices through the subject's tissue; processing the OCT scans to determine a set of parameters; processing each parameter to determine a set of control settings for an energy-delivery device (20); transmitting the control settings from the computing device (1) to the energy-delivery device (20); in which the set of parameters comprises the depth of the superficial plexus (108) through the subject's skin (7).

Abstract: A method of processing optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans, comprising: receiving OCT data comprising an OCT signal indicative of the level of scattering in a sample, the OCT data including the OCT signal for at least one scan through the sample, with the OCT signal having been measured at varying depth and position through the sample in each scan; processing the OCT data for each scan with depth to produce a indicative depth scan representative of the OCT signal at each depth through all of the scans; fitting a curve to the indicative depth scan, the curve comprising a first term which exponentially decays with respect to the depth and a second term which depends on the noise in the OCT signal; and calculating a compensated intensity for the OCT signal at each point through each scan, the compensated intensity comprising a ratio of a term comprising a logarithm of the OCT signal to a term comprising the logarithm of the fitted curve.

Abstract: A method of processing optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans through a subject's skin, the method comprising: receiving at least one OCT scan through the subject's skin, each scan representing an OCT signal in a slice through the subject's skin; processing each OCT scan so as to determine a set of parameters comprising at least a measure of the atrophy of the vascular structure in the epidermis; in which the processing produces a measurement of skin condition dependent upon each of the set of parameters, and the method comprises outputting the measurement of skin condition.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for processing optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans through a subject's skin (7), the method comprising: receiving at least one OCT scan through the subject's skin (7), each scan representing an OCT signal in a slice through the subject's skin; processing each OCT scan so as to determine the presence of at least one blood vessel (9) in each scan; determining a diameter of at least one of the at least one blood vessels (9) whose presence has been determined; and typically determining a depth profile of blood vessel density for different vessel diameters.

Abstract: A method of processing optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans through a subject's skin, the method comprising: receiving at least one OCT scan through the subject's skin, each scan representing an OCT signal in a slice through the subject's skin; processing each OCT scan so as to determine a set of parameters comprising at least a measure of the atrophy of the vascular structure in the epidermis; in which the processing produces a measurement of skin condition dependent upon each of the set of parameters, and the method comprises outputting the measurement of skin condition.