JPH05253210A - Wrinkle measuring system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To analyze the form of skin surface multifoldly and synthetically by illuminating a replica with a slant incident parallel beam, photographing it to produce an image, subjecting it to particle analysis, processing the shape data of the obtained shade region computationally, and determining the wrinkle depth, wrinkle area ratio, by-depth area ratio distribution, etc. CONSTITUTION:A replica placed horizontally on a specimen stage 4 is photographed by a CCD camera 5 while illuminated aslant by a parallel beam light source 3, and the image obtained is fed to an image processor 6. The image processor 6 takes in the image upon converting into a digital image and stores in a photo-disk 8. This is followed by a binary processing or a threshold processing to extract the shade region for each small wrinkle, and the area and length of each of the shade regions extracted within the specified measuring region are measured. A host computer 7 takes in the measuring data, calculates the depth of each small wrinkle, analyzes the wrinkle depths, calculates the wrinkle area ratio, and performs analysis of wrinkle quantity.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wrinkle measuring system for analyzing wrinkles and the like on the skin surface by optical means.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With age, wrinkles on the skin surface increase. From the viewpoint of beauty, effective wrinkle preventive treatment and wrinkle removing treatment are desired. In order to take a scientifically effective treatment, it is necessary to analyze the surface condition of the skin precisely as a prerequisite. Therefore, various analysis methods have been conventionally proposed.

For example, a replica photographing apparatus for illuminating a replica of the skin surface with obliquely incident parallel light and photographing a shadow state, and an image analysis for processing a photographed image to extract individual shadow areas and performing particle analysis. A method in which a device is combined is known. This method is, for example, a paper presented by an academic society, "Image analysis of skin surface micro-relief, cokaf, etc., 3rd International Symposium on Biotechnology and Skin, Philadelphia, USA, July 1981" (Image an
alysis of the cutaneous m
icrorelef, P.I. Corcuff, J .; De
Rial and J. L. Levelque, Th
ird International Symposi
um on Bioengineering and
the Skin, Philadelphia, US
A, July 1981). The negative replica collected from the skin surface has fine irregularities. The convex portion is a portion to which a skin groove or wrinkle is transferred. When this replica is illuminated with obliquely incident parallel light, a shadow region is generated in a portion blocked by the convex portion. By extracting the shadow area as particles and performing image analysis, the skin surface state is optically detected.

[0004]

In order to obtain effective information or data concerning the condition of the skin surface from particle analysis, it is necessary to set appropriate analysis parameters according to the purpose. However, the above-mentioned conventional device is designed mainly for skin texture analysis and is not necessarily suitable for skin wrinkle analysis. The analysis parameters calculated by the conventional apparatus are the number density of skin grooves, the average depth of the skin grooves, and the folding coefficient. The density of the number of skin furrows gives important information for texture analysis, but it cannot be a powerful index when applied to wrinkle analysis as it is.
Also, the average of the depths of individual skin grooves is taken as an analysis parameter, but in the case of performing wrinkle analysis, even if the average wrinkle depth is calculated, no powerful information can be obtained. The folding coefficient represents the ratio of the actual surface area of the replica surface including irregularities to the plane area of the region to be measured. The folding coefficient is calculated using a complicated approximate expression and has low accuracy, and even if it is used for wrinkle analysis as it is, it cannot be an appropriate characteristic value representing wrinkle amount.

In addition to the above-mentioned conventional techniques, various skin surface analysis methods have been proposed. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 60-53121 and 61-64232 disclose an apparatus for illuminating a skin replica with a plurality of light sources to extract a pattern of a skin groove and analyzing a skin groove interval and a skin groove direction. It is disclosed. However, this device has a problem that the depth measurement cannot be performed because the skin replica is illuminated by a plurality of light sources from different directions. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 64-59145 discloses a method in which an image is directly captured from the skin surface without using a replica and binarized to perform pattern analysis. There is a problem that it is difficult to analyze the depth because illumination is performed in all directions during image capturing. JP-A-2-46833
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-242242 discloses a method of obtaining data on the skin groove depth by subjecting a replica-captured image to gradation processing and then image processing. However, the secondary image subjected to gradation processing does not always faithfully reproduce the unevenness of the skin surface. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 60-63030 discloses a method of measuring a skin groove or wrinkle depth by monitoring a binarized image while changing a threshold level for the skin image. However, with such a method, it is difficult to perform a precise depth measurement for each wrinkle.

As is clear from the above description, it is difficult to accurately measure the state of wrinkles by any of the conventional methods, and it is necessary to elucidate the wrinkle generation process and to evaluate the effectiveness of preventive and improved cosmetics. Was a big obstacle. In view of this point, the present invention provides a wrinkle measuring system that enables a multi-faceted evaluation by scientifically analyzing wrinkle depth, wrinkle amount, and wrinkle distribution state by a unique method applying image processing technology. With the goal.

[0007]

The measures taken to solve the problems of the prior art and to achieve the objects of the present invention are as follows. That is, the wrinkle measurement system according to the present invention has, as basic components, a replica photographing device that illuminates a small wrinkle replica with parallel light to photograph a shadow state, and processes a photographed image to process individual shadow areas. And an image analysis device for extracting and performing particle analysis.

As a characteristic constituent feature of the present invention, the image analysis apparatus measures the data of the area and length of each shadow region, and calculates the depth of each small wrinkle based on the measurement data. And means for performing wrinkle depth analysis by obtaining the maximum value from the calculated depth data.

In addition to or in addition to the above-mentioned means, the image analysis apparatus includes a means for measuring area data of individual shadow areas and a measurement area of an image obtained by summing up vertical components of the measured area data. Means for calculating the ratio to the flat area and performing wrinkle amount analysis may be provided.

Further, in addition to or in addition to the above-mentioned means, the image analysis apparatus has a means for stratifying individual wrinkles based on the calculated depth value and an area of a shadow region for each stratum. A means for summing the data and calculating the ratio of the image to the plane area of the measurement region to perform wrinkle amount distribution analysis by depth may be provided.

[0011]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the depth is calculated from the shape of the corresponding shadow area for each small wrinkle included in the sample. The maximum value of the calculated depth data is used as an index representing the wrinkle depth of the sample. The wrinkles generally tend to become deeper with age. Therefore, by using the maximum value as an index, it becomes possible to know the degree of aging of each specimen. If the wrinkle depths are averaged and used as an index as in the past, meaningful information will be lost.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the area data measured for each shadow area is summed up and standardized by the plane area of the measurement area of the image to obtain the index indicating the wrinkle amount. The calculation is simpler and the measurement accuracy is improved as compared with the conventional calculation method using the folding coefficient.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, stratification is performed based on the depth value calculated for each small wrinkle. The wrinkle amount distribution by depth is obtained by summing up the area data of the shadow area for each layer and normalizing it with the plane area of the measurement area of the image. In order to detect the wrinkle state more accurately, it is important to know the distribution state of how deep the wrinkles are and how many wrinkles exist. By performing wrinkle amount distribution analysis by depth, it is possible to grasp the generation process of small wrinkles and the progress of aging.

According to the present invention, the surface condition of the skin can be accurately diagnosed by analyzing the above-mentioned three parameters in a multi-faceted manner and comprehensively evaluating them. In addition,
Each of the three analysis parameters has a technical meaning, and it is not always necessary to evaluate all the parameters simultaneously depending on the purpose of analysis.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of a wrinkle measuring system according to the present invention. The wrinkle measuring system includes a replica photographing device 1 and an image analyzing device 2. The replica photographing apparatus 1 is composed of a collimated light source 3, a sample setting table 4, and a small CCD camera 5. A replica set horizontally on the sample installation table 4 is illuminated from above obliquely with parallel light, and a small CCD camera 5 photographs the shadow area generated corresponding to the small wrinkles. Collimated light source 3
Consists of a xenon lamp with a small light emitting area and high brightness, and illuminates a replica with obliquely incident parallel light through a filter and a lens system. The diffusion angle indicating the spread of light is 0.2
It is preferable to use a very small one. The sample installation table 4 is equipped with a jack mechanism for horizontally installing the replica. The magnifying lens of the CCD camera 5 is replaceable, and the magnification of the captured image can be changed from 10 times to 60 times. A 17 × lens is used for normal wrinkle measurement.

On the other hand, the image analysis device 2 comprises an image processor 6, a host computer 7, an optical disk 8 and an input / output terminal 9. The image processor 6 is C
The image captured from the CD camera 5 is processed. The image processor 6 is controlled by a wrinkle analysis program in the host computer 7, and processes and measures an image in a designated procedure. In this embodiment, the image processor 6 is an image analyzer NEXU manufactured by NEXUS.
It is mainly composed of X6400. The host computer 7 controls the image processor 6 in addition to the system control.
The measurement data obtained from the above is arithmetically processed to perform a predetermined parameter analysis. The optical disk 8 is an image database and stores an image input from the replica photographing apparatus 1 or image data processed by the image processor 6. The input / output terminal 9 includes a 14-inch image monitor and a keyboard.

Next, the wrinkle measuring principle of the present invention will be briefly described with reference to FIG. On the surface of the replica 10, ridges Wi to which individual wrinkles are transferred are formed. When the ridge Wi is illuminated with obliquely incident illumination light, a shadow area is generated. The shadow area Si and the length Li of each shadow region are measured by an image processor, and the wrinkle depth Vi is calculated from the obtained data and the illumination angle α. As is clear from the geometrical optics relationship shown in FIG. 2, the wrinkle depth Vi is Si ÷ Li × tan α
Given in. Moreover, the vertical direction component Si × ta of the shadow area Si
nα represents the area in the depth direction caused by each wrinkle. The wrinkle depth data Vi and the vertical direction component of the shadow area or each wrinkle area Si × tan α described above are standardized by the illumination angle α and are parameters that do not depend on the installation attitude of the illumination light source or the light source brightness.

Next, referring to the flow chart of FIG.
The function of the wrinkle measuring system shown in will be described in detail. In step S1, the CCD camera 5 is operated to obliquely illuminate the replica horizontally arranged on the sample setting table 4 by the parallel light illuminating light source 3, and the replica photographing is performed. Then, in step S2, the captured image is input to the image processor 6. The image processor 6 converts the captured image into 8-bit digital image data, captures it, and stores and stores it in the optical disc 8. Furthermore, in step S3,
The image processor 6 performs the image correction to remove the fluctuation and the inclination of the image brightness. This image correction is performed by creating a smoothed image from the original image and dividing the original image data by the smoothed image data. This correction eliminates the influence of fluctuations in illumination light. Then, in step S4,
Binarization processing or threshold processing is performed to extract shadow areas corresponding to individual wrinkles. This binarization processing is performed by the image processor 6 and compares the brightness of each pixel of the image with a predetermined threshold value to separate the brightness into white and black. By this classification, individual shadow areas are emphasized and extracted, and so-called particles are obtained.

Next, in step S5, a measurement region is designated as necessary. The measurement area is designated by using a keyboard or a digitizer while observing the monitor of the image processor 6. The area designation is performed when wrinkles are measured for the same part of the replica taken in time series. For example, when examining the effects on wrinkles by applying cosmetics or other drugs, massage, aesthetic treatment, etc., by performing wrinkle measurement by designating a completely overlapping area in a replica taken from approximately the same site before and after the treatment. The detection sensitivity of the effect is increased. For this purpose, the screens before and after the treatment are overlapped on the monitor and the common area is designated. For example, a monitor connected to the image processor 6 can display a working image in addition to the RGB three primary color images. A replica photographed image before using cosmetics is displayed in R (red) and a replica photographed image after using cosmetics is displayed in G (green). The red image is fixed and only the green image is moved up, down, left, and right on the monitor to perform superposition, and a common area is designated by, for example, a digitizer while referring to the work image.

Next, in step S6, so-called particle analysis is performed. That is, the area Si and the length Li of each shadow area extracted in the designated measurement area are measured (FIG. 2).
reference). Subsequently, in step S7, the host computer 7 fetches the above-mentioned measurement data from the image processor 6 and calculates the depth Vi of each small wrinkle. As described above, the wrinkle depth Vi is given by (Si / Li) × tan α. Further, in step S8, the wrinkle depth analysis is performed by obtaining the maximum value V = Max (Vi) from the calculated depth data. In addition, in parallel with this or independently, in step S9, the measured area data S
The vertical component Si × tan α of i is summed up to calculate the ratio of the image to the measurement area plane area W (hereinafter referred to as wrinkle area ratio RWA) to perform wrinkle amount analysis. This vertical component S
i × tan α corresponds to the product of the wrinkle depth Vi and the wrinkle length Li, and represents the area in the vertical direction caused by the wrinkles.
Therefore, the wrinkle area ratio RWA is a parameter representing the wrinkle amount and is given by Σ (Si × tan α) / W × 100. Since this wrinkle area ratio RWA is data standardized by the measurement area W, it is a parameter that does not depend on the sample size. Further, in step S10, distribution analysis is performed in parallel with or independently of steps S8 and S9. Specifically, each small wrinkle is stratified based on the calculated depth value, and the vertical direction component Si × tan α of the area data Si of the shadow region is summed for each stratum to calculate the measurement region flat area W of the image. And the area ratio by depth is calculated.

Using the wrinkle measuring system according to the present invention, an analysis was conducted on changes in small wrinkles with aging. 20
Subjects in their teens to 70s were sampled and a replica of the skin surface morphology was collected. Replica sampling is a silicone resin (SILF) that is trusted for observing skin surface morphology.
LO, manufactured by Flexico) was used to transfer the unevenness of small wrinkles on the outer corners of the eyes. At that time, an adhesive mount with a hole of 13 mm in diameter was used in order to make the replica collection area constant and to facilitate setting in the photographing device.
It is attached to the skin so that one end of the hole of the mount comes to the position of 5 mm outside in the horizontal direction from the outer corner of the eye, and the positioning mark written on the mount is placed outside the eyes on the line passing through both eyes. Next, a silicone resin kneaded with a polymerizing agent was poured into the hole portion of the mount, and after curing, the mount was peeled off to obtain a measurement sample or sample.

Subsequently, the replica was photographed. The sampled wrinkle replica is set on the sample mount of the imaging device so that the measurement surface is horizontal, and illuminated with parallel light of constant intensity using the xenon light source and lens system to create the shadow of the wrinkle. It was At this time, the replica was installed so that the line connecting the eyes and the illumination light were perpendicular by rotating the sample installation table. Photographing was performed from above using a small CCD camera that can move in three axial directions, and the photographing magnification was 17 times (when observed with a 14-inch monitor).

Next, the photographed shadow images were integrated and input to the image processor 256 times, an image having an average brightness was created for each pixel, and noise removal processing was performed. After that, the binarized image was obtained by thresholding and extracting the shadow area in the image subjected to the correction processing at a constant brightness level. The wrinkle depth V and the wrinkle area ratio RWA were calculated by measuring the shape of the shadow area included in the binarized image. Furthermore, in order to investigate the quantitative distribution by wrinkle depth, the wrinkle depth was stratified into 9 sections and the RWA in each section was also calculated.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing the correlation between the wrinkle depth V thus measured and the age of the subject. As is clear from the graph, the wrinkle depth V increased with aging, and a significant difference was observed between the ages of the 20s and 60s. In the 20s and 30s, most wrinkles had a depth of 0.15 mm or less, and the individual difference was relatively small. On the other hand, in the 40s and older, the wrinkle depth increased remarkably, and at the same time, the individual difference became very large.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing the correlation between the wrinkle area ratio RWA and the age of the subject. RWA is 60 from 20s
It was observed that there was a tendency of increasing in the teens and slightly decreasing in the 70s. In particular, it increased significantly in the younger age group around the thirties, and the individual differences in this age group were also relatively large.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing the correspondence between the depth V and the area ratio RWA in the aging change of wrinkles. The wrinkle area ratio mainly increased significantly in the thirties, then 4
The increase in wrinkle depth was remarkable after the 0th generation.
This suggests that in the process of forming wrinkles, the amount of fine irregularities with a depth of about 0.1 mm increases first, and then gradually develops into deep and large wrinkles. That is,
In the formation of wrinkles, a quantitative increase in fine irregularities before and after the thirties is occurring as a precursor to a full-scale change in the occurrence of deep wrinkles. Appropriate treatment at this time is extremely important for the prevention and improvement of wrinkles. As described above, by using the wrinkle analysis system according to the present invention, it is possible to clearly understand the precursor of the small wrinkle.

In order to examine the aging change of RWA according to the depth of wrinkles, the depth of wrinkles is divided into 9 sections and the results of totaling the RWAs in each section are shown in the graph of FIG. The range of each division is in units of μm, level 1 is less than 30, level 2 is 30 to 60, level 3 is 60 to 100, level 4 is 100 to 150, level 5 is 150 to 200, level 6 is 200 to 300, level 7 is 300-500, level 8 is 500-800,
Level 9 is 800 or higher. In the twenties to thirties, wrinkles with a depth of 0.15 mm or more were hardly observed. Deep wrinkles gradually appear in people in their 40s and after 60
Wrinkles with a depth of 0.2 mm or more accounted for most of the age group.
The RWA with a wrinkle depth of less than 0.1 mm increased from the 20s to the 30s, but decreased with age.
The RWA for wrinkles with a depth of 0.1 mm to 0.15 mm was the largest in the 40s, and the RWA for wrinkles with a depth of 0.15 mm to 0.2mm was the largest in the 50s. RWA wrinkles with a depth of 0.2 mm or more
Increased monotonically with age. In this way, by measuring the quantitative change of small wrinkles with aging by depth,
It is possible to clearly understand how the small wrinkles are gradually accumulated in the large deep wrinkles.

In order to more clearly understand the generation and growth process of wrinkles, FIG. 8 shows an example of a typical image of small wrinkles around the outer corner of the eye corresponding to the above measurement results. From late 20s to 30
At the initial stage of wrinkle generation in the age generation, fine unevenness is generated in a wide range, which is the reason why the RWA is greatly increased rather than the wrinkle depth. It is considered that such fine irregularities having a depth of 0.15 mm or less indicate the initial stage in which small wrinkles occur. As the second stage of wrinkle formation, it is observed that the wrinkle depth increases remarkably in the 40s and after, and gradually develops into deep and large wrinkles. In addition, it is also observed that fine irregularities are reduced in the elderly. As is clear from the above description, the three kinds of analysis parameters adopted in the wrinkle measuring system according to the present invention faithfully and multi-facetly represent the morphological changes of the skin surface, and the generation and growth process of small wrinkles are comprehensively integrated. It is a powerful indicator for making a positive judgment.

Finally, as another example of the analysis using the wrinkle measuring system according to the present invention, the effect of the beauty essence against small wrinkles was evaluated. In order to examine the skin surface morphological changes when the beauty essence was continuously used, replicas of the outer corners of the eyes before and after continuous use for 8 weeks in winter were collected. The RWA was measured according to the above method using the collected replica. At this time, in order to accurately evaluate the morphological change, it is necessary to measure a strictly common range in the replicas collected before and after using the beauty essence. Therefore, display both before and after images on the monitor,
By moving one image on the screen and overlapping the corresponding parts, a common range was specified and only this region was measured. FIG. 9 shows changes in RWA according to wrinkle depth before and after continuous use of the beauty essence. The depth division is the same as in FIG. 7.
The RWA of wrinkles having a depth of 0.15 mm or more hardly changed before and after continuous use, whereas the RWA of the wrinkles having a depth of less than 0.15 mm significantly decreased. Continued use of serums generally increases the amount of keratin water. This effect was found to affect relatively small wrinkles.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention, the image captured by illuminating the replica with obliquely incident parallel light is subjected to particle analysis, and the shape data of the obtained shadow region is arithmetically processed to obtain a characteristic feature. Since various analysis parameters such as wrinkle depth (size of unevenness), wrinkle area ratio (amount of unevenness), and area ratio distribution by depth are calculated, multi-faceted and comprehensive analysis and evaluation of the condition of small wrinkles is performed. The effect is that you can do it. By using an illumination light source with a small light emitting area and high brightness, it is possible to perform highly accurate oblique incident parallel light illumination, and the measurement sensitivity in the depth direction is about 5 μm at standard measurement (for example, measurement area area 1.3 cm ² ). There is an effect that can be improved to. Higher precision measurement is possible by increasing the shooting magnification. By precisely superimposing the images taken before and after the use of cosmetics on the monitor, there is an effect that the same site can be evaluated and the detection sensitivity becomes high.

The wrinkle measuring system according to the present invention has the excellent skin morphology analysis function as described above, and is used for various analyses. For example, as a result of measuring the generation and growth process of small wrinkles using the system according to the present invention, it was possible to confirm a quantitative increase in small irregularities in the late twenties to early thirties as a sign of the occurrence of small wrinkles. In addition, by examining the change of small wrinkles with age, it was possible to observe the process in which small wrinkles accumulate and gradually grow into deep large wrinkles. By using the wrinkle measurement system according to the present invention, efficacy evaluation research of wrinkle-improving cosmetics and aesthetics,
It becomes possible to study photoaging and to understand the correspondence between the internal structure of the skin such as elastic fiber structure and the surface morphology.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a wrinkle measuring system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining the basic principle of wrinkle measurement according to the present invention.

3 is a flowchart for explaining the function of the wrinkle measuring system shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing the relationship between wrinkle depth V and age measured by the wrinkle measuring system according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing the relationship between the area ratio RWA and age.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing the relationship between the area ratio RWA and the wrinkle depth V.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing a wrinkle depth-based area ratio distribution for each age group.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a typical example of replica images photographed according to age.

FIG. 9 is a graph showing an area ratio distribution by wrinkle depth before and after using a beauty essence.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Replica photographing device 2 Image analysis device 3 Parallel light illumination light source 4 Specimen mounting table 5 CCD camera 6 Image processor 7 Host computer 8 Optical disc 9 Input / output terminal 10 Replica

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A replica photographing apparatus for illuminating a small wrinkle replica with parallel light to photograph a shadow state, and an image analyzing apparatus for processing a photographed image to extract individual shadow regions and performing particle analysis. In the wrinkle measurement system, the image analysis device measures the area and length data of each shadow region, calculates the depth of each small wrinkle based on the measurement data, and calculates the calculated depth. Wrinkle measuring system having means for performing wrinkle depth analysis by obtaining a maximum value from the height data. 2. A replica photographing device for illuminating a small wrinkle replica with parallel light to photograph a shadow state, and an image analyzing device for processing a photographed image to extract individual shadow regions and performing particle analysis. In the wrinkle measurement system, the image analysis device measures the wrinkle by measuring the area data of each shadow area and the vertical component of the measured area data to calculate the ratio to the plane area of the measurement area. A wrinkle measuring system characterized by having a means for performing a quantity analysis. 3. A replica photographing apparatus for illuminating a small wrinkle replica with parallel light to photograph a shadow state, and an image analyzing apparatus for processing a photographed image to extract individual shadow regions and performing particle analysis. In the wrinkle measurement system, the image analysis device measures the area and length data of each shadow region, calculates the depth of each small wrinkle based on the measurement data, and calculates the calculated depth. Based on this, a means for stratifying each small wrinkle and the vertical component of the area data of the shadow area for each stratum are summed to calculate the ratio to the measurement area flat area of the image and analyze the wrinkle amount distribution by depth. A wrinkle measuring system characterized by having a means for performing. 4. The wrinkle measuring system according to claim 3, further comprising means for performing wrinkle depth analysis by obtaining a maximum value from depth values of individual small wrinkles. 5. The wrinkle according to claim 4, further comprising means for performing a wrinkle amount analysis by summing vertical components of the area data of all shadow areas and calculating a ratio of the image to the plane area of the measurement area. Measuring system.