JPH09329838A - Camera base - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily and stably obtain the distinct image of a horny layer sampled on the adhesive surface of a horny layer sampling sheet by providing an illumination means for transmissive illumination which projects light in a state where its optical axis is deviated from that of an enlarging camera and providing a switch for changing over vertical illumination and transmissive illumination. SOLUTION: The vertical illumination from a lamp 25 built in an enlarging camera 13 and the transmissive illumination from a planar light emitting element 23 built in a camera base 12 can be changed over by a changeover switch provided on the upper surface of the camera base 12. In the case of selecting the transmissive illumination in such a constitution, light from the element 23 is transmitted through the horny layer sampling sheet 16 and the transmitted light passes through an optical system 26 in the camera 13 so as to be image- processed. In the transmitted image obtained in such a way, a part where the horny layer is uniformly distributed out of the sampled horny layer is displayed in blue and a part where the horny layer is partially thick is displayed in black, so that it is effective to evaluate the uniformity of the horny layer.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera stand used for observing skin conditions.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A person's skin condition depends on his / her age, environment,
There are many different things depending on the care method, etc., and using cosmetics suitable for each person is an important issue for beauty.
Therefore, conventionally, a salesperson at a cosmetics store measures the skin condition (moisture amount, sebum amount, etc.) of the customer using various instruments, and according to the result, counseling or cosmetics suitable for the person. Have been recommended or done.

Recently, in such skin counseling, in addition to the measurement of the amount of water and the amount of sebum, the state of the stratum corneum formed on the skin surface has been observed.

Observation of the state of the stratum corneum is performed, for example, as follows. That is, first, a transparent stratum corneum collection sheet having an adhesive surface on one side is pressed against the skin surface of the customer and then peeled off to adhere the stratum corneum on the skin surface to the adhesive surface for collection. Then, the stratum corneum collection sheet to which the stratum corneum is attached is projected by a magnifying camera, and the magnified image is displayed on an appropriate display means to observe the state of the stratum corneum. The magnifying camera has a built-in illumination unit provided so as to have the same optical axis as the optical system of the camera, and performs epi-illumination from the imaging opening of the magnifying camera toward the stratum corneum collection sheet. It is like this.

[0005]

However, in the above method, when the stratum corneum collection sheet is imaged by the magnifying camera, the background behind the stratum corneum collection sheet is reflected through the transparent stratum corneum collection sheet, which affects the image. There is a problem that it is difficult to obtain a clear image. Further, the illumination means on the magnifying camera side is likely to be reflected on the background of the stratum corneum collection sheet to form an image that is whitishly reflected, which is another reason why a clear image cannot be obtained. When the magnifying camera is held by hand and the imaging opening at the tip of the magnifying camera is brought close to the stratum corneum collecting sheet, it is difficult to position the magnifying camera perpendicularly to the stratum corneum collecting sheet. There is also a problem that it is not possible to stably obtain an image that matches. Further, there is also a problem in that the uniformity of the stratum corneum cannot be observed only by epi-illumination by the illumination means built in the magnifying camera side, although the thickness of the stratum corneum adhering to the stratum corneum collection sheet can be observed. is there.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a camera base capable of easily and stably obtaining a clear image of the stratum corneum collected on the adhesive surface of the stratum corneum collection sheet. Is its purpose.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is one in which the stratum corneum collection sheet having an adhesive surface is pressed against the skin surface of the subject and then peeled off. It is a camera stand used when the stratum corneum on the skin surface is collected by adhering to the adhesive surface, and this stratum corneum collection sheet with stratum corneum is imaged by a magnifying camera equipped with an illumination means for epi-illumination inside. And a holding means for positioning and holding the magnifying camera at a predetermined position, and the stratum corneum collecting sheet on a surface facing the imaging opening of the held magnifying camera and perpendicular to the optical axis of the magnifying camera. The stratum corneum collection sheet holding unit capable of holding the, and the stratum corneum collection sheet held by the stratum corneum collection sheet holding unit, on the side opposite to the imaging opening of the magnifying camera, from the position inside the table, Enlarged turtle A switching switch for switching between epi-illumination from the inside of the magnifying camera and transmissive illumination from the inside of the base, as well as providing illumination means for projecting light with the optical axis deviated from the optical axis of The camera stand is characterized by the provision of.

The invention according to claim 2 of the present invention is
In the invention according to claim 1, the illuminating means for the transillumination is a camera base including a planar light emitting element and a power supply.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a skin surface evaluation apparatus incorporating a camera stand 12 of the present invention. This device is
Imaging unit 1 for enlarging and imaging the adhesive surface (hereinafter abbreviated as “sample surface”) of the stratum corneum collection sheet from which the stratum corneum has been collected
And a TV color monitor 3 for displaying an enlarged image in response to an instruction from the main body 2 and a main body 2 for processing the enlarged image obtained thereby. The image pickup unit 1 is a special camera base 1 according to the present invention.
2 and a magnifying camera 13 that is obliquely mounted on the upper surface of the camera base 12.

As shown in FIG. 2, the stratum corneum collection sheet 16 used in this skin surface evaluation apparatus is made by joining two upper and lower transparent polyester sheets 17 and 18 together through an adhesive layer 19, A circular cutout 20 is formed at a position slightly closer to one side in the longitudinal direction of the upper sheet 17, and a circular release piece 21 is attached to the cutout 20. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, when the release piece 21 is peeled from the stratum corneum collection sheet 16, the adhesive does not adhere to the release piece 21 side, and the surface of the adhesive layer 19 is
Exposed in a flat and uniform state. By pressing and peeling off the exposed portion (notch portion 20) of the adhesive layer 19 to the site (for example, cheek, forehead, etc.) of the subject to be measured, the stratum corneum can be attached and collected at this portion. It has become.

A large number of the stratum corneum collection sheets 16 are prepared, and are disposable after each measurement.

As shown in FIG. 5, the magnifying camera 13 used for picking up the image of the stratum corneum collecting sheet 16 is made of a hollow plastic molded product, and the lamps 25 arranged in an annular shape have an optical system 26. It is built in in the enclosed state. Then, the image is taken in through the imaging opening 11 at the tip. The illumination of the lamp 25 illuminates the stratum corneum collection sheet 16 held by the camera stand 12 described later through the imaging opening 11 as indicated by the arrow A. In contrast, it becomes epi-illumination. Reference numeral 29 is a switch for storing the captured image in the main body 2 (see FIG. 1).

On the other hand, the camera base 12 on which the magnifying camera 13 is mounted is also made of a hollow plastic molded product, and at the end of the magnifying camera 13 on the side where the image pickup opening 11 (see FIG. 1) is arranged, As shown in FIG. 4, the groove 14 having a V-shaped cross section
Are formed. Then, one of the slopes of the groove 14 serves as a stratum corneum collection sheet holding portion 15 for holding the stratum corneum collection sheet 16, and by just placing the stratum corneum collection sheet 16 on this portion, As shown in FIG. 5, it can be positioned and held on a surface facing the imaging opening 11 of the magnifying camera 13 and perpendicular to the optical axis of the magnifying camera 13. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 30 denotes an engaging projection for properly positioning and holding the magnifying camera 13 placed thereon, and a concave portion corresponding to this portion is provided on the magnifying camera 13 side (not shown). No).

Further, the stratum corneum collection sheet holding portion 15 has an opening 22 for illuminating from inside the camera stand 12.
(See FIG. 4) is formed, and the planar light emitting element provided inside the camera stand 12 is provided for the stratum corneum collection sheet 16 held in the stratum corneum collection sheet holding portion 15 through the opening 22. From (electroluminescence) 23, as shown by an arrow B in FIG. 5, transmitted illumination is performed. The optical axis Y of the planar light emitting device 23 is set so as to deviate from the optical axis X of the magnifying camera 13 by a predetermined angle θ. Reference numeral 24 is a power supply (small transformer) for causing the planar light emitting element 23 to emit light.

The incident illumination from the lamp 25 incorporated in the magnifying camera 13 and the transmitted illumination from the plane light emitting element 23 incorporated in the camera base 12 are the same as those of the camera base 12.
It can be switched by a changeover switch 28 provided on the upper surface of the.

When the epi-illumination is selected, the lamp 25
Is reflected on the surface of the stratum corneum collection sheet 16, and the reflected light passes through the optical system 26 in the magnifying camera 13 to be image-processed. According to the reflection image obtained in this way, the fine irregularities of the collected stratum corneum are clearly distinguished, and the shades are displayed in black and white shades, so it is possible to evaluate a large or small amount of corneocytes. It is valid.

When the above-mentioned transmitted illumination is selected, the light from the flat light emitting element 23 is transmitted through the stratum corneum collection sheet 16, and the transmitted light is passed through the optical system 26 in the magnifying camera 13 for image processing. According to the transmission image obtained in this way, the portion of the collected stratum corneum in which the stratum corneum is uniformly distributed is displayed in blue, and the thick portion is partially displayed in black, which indicates that the uniformity of stratum corneum is uniform. Is useful for evaluating.

It is to be noted that, in these images, the light incident from the image pickup opening 11 of the magnifying camera 13 is magnified through the optical system 26, and further decoded by a CCD circuit (not shown) built in the upper part of the image so that the images are electrically converted. Converted to a signal,
It is obtained by being sent to the main body unit 2 and processed, and then displayed on the TV color monitor 3 as a moving image or a still image.

According to the above device, the stratum corneum collecting sheet 16
Is simply placed on the stratum corneum collection sheet holding portion 15 of the camera base 12, and is positioned and held on a surface which faces the imaging opening 11 of the magnifying camera 13 and is perpendicular to the optical axis X of the magnifying camera 13. Therefore, it is possible to stably obtain a focused and clear image. Moreover, an opening 22 is formed on the rear side of the stratum corneum collection sheet holding portion 15, and a flat light emitting element 23 is provided inside the opening 22 with the optical axis Y shifted from the optical axis X of the magnifying camera 13. Therefore, the background of the stratum corneum collection sheet 16 does not affect the image, and the lamp 25 on the side of the magnifying camera 13 does not appear in the background during epi-illumination. Then, by performing transmitted illumination from the planar light emitting device 23, it becomes possible to observe the uniformity of the stratum corneum, which could not be observed only by conventional epi-illumination, and evaluate this. You can

In the above example, a combination of the flat light emitting element 23 and the power supply 24 was used as the means for transmitting illumination, but the means is not necessarily limited to this, and for example, a lamp array (collection of lamps). ) Etc. can be used.

The deviation angle θ between the optical axis Y of the planar light emitting element 23 and the optical axis X of the optical system 26 of the magnifying camera 13 is usually preferably set to 5 to 60 °. That is, if θ is less than 5 °, the effect of preventing the reflection of the lamp 25 during epi-illumination by the lamp 25 cannot be obtained so much. On the contrary, if θ is greater than 60 °, the amount of light during transmissive illumination by the planar light emitting element 23 is small. This is because there are few dark images.

The magnifying camera 13 and the stratum corneum collecting sheet 16 to be combined with the camera stand 12 of the present invention are not limited to the above examples, and those having an appropriate structure can be used.

[0024]

Next, an embodiment will be described.

Using the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the stratum corneum was sampled using a stratum corneum collection sheet for 10 monitors, and was actually observed under magnification. At this time, when two types of images, a reflection image by epi-illumination and a transmission image by trans-illumination, were observed, respectively, clear images were obtained, and the thickness and uniformity of the stratum corneum could be evaluated in detail. .

[0026]

As described above, according to the camera base of the present invention, the stratum corneum collection sheet is simply placed on the predetermined stratum corneum collection sheet holding portion, and it is opposed to the imaging opening of the magnifying camera and enlarged. Since it can be positioned and held on the surface perpendicular to the optical axis of the camera, it is possible to stably obtain a focused and clear image. Moreover, since the illuminating means for transmitted illumination is provided inside the camera base with the optical axis deviated from the optical axis of the magnifying camera, the illuminating means for epi-illumination on the magnifying camera side is reflected in the background during epi-illumination. There is no jamming and the image is not adversely affected. Then, the transmitted illumination makes it possible to observe the uniformity of the stratum corneum, which could not be observed only by the conventional epi-illumination, and this can be evaluated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a skin condition observation device incorporating an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a stratum corneum collection sheet used in the above examples.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of a usage state of the stratum corneum collection sheet.

FIG. 4 is a partial explanatory view of the camera base of the above embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of a usage state of the camera base of the above embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Imaging Aperture 12 Camera Stand 13 Magnifying Camera 22 Aperture 23 Planar Light Emitting Element 25 Lamp 26 Optical System 28 Changeover Switch X, Y Optical Axis

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A stratum corneum with a stratum corneum is collected by pressing a corneum layer-collecting sheet having an adhesive surface onto the skin surface of a subject and then peeling it off to attach the stratum corneum on the skin surface to the adhesive face. A camera stand used when the collection sheet is imaged by a magnifying camera equipped with an illuminating means for epi-illumination, the holding means for positioning and holding the magnifying camera at a predetermined position, and the holding means. A stratum corneum collection sheet holding unit capable of holding the stratum corneum collection sheet on a surface facing the imaging opening of the magnification camera and perpendicular to the optical axis of the magnification camera, and retained by the stratum corneum collection sheet holding unit. Illumination for transillumination that projects light on the stratum corneum collection sheet from a position inside the base on the side opposite to the imaging opening of the magnifying camera, with the optical axis deviated from the optical axis of the magnifying camera. When means are provided In addition, the camera base is provided with a changeover switch for switching the epi-illumination from the inside of the magnifying camera and the transmitted light from the inside of the base. 2. The illumination means for transmitted illumination comprises a flat light emitting element and a power supply.
The camera stand shown.