APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MEASURING THE ELASTICITY OF SKIN Russian patent published in 2021 - IPC A61B5/107 G01N3/40 G06T7/00 

FIELD: medical equipment.

SUBSTANCE: group of inventions relates to medicine, namely to an apparatus, system and method for measuring the elasticity of skin. The apparatus comprises a tool for attaching the apparatus for measuring elasticity to an image recording apparatus, a mechanical tool, a mirror. The mechanical tool is made so that the skin is deformed on impact with a preset pressure when the tool is pressed to the skin. The image of deformed skin therein can be recorded by the image recording apparatus when said apparatus is attached to the apparatus for measuring the elasticity. The mechanical tool comprises an external and an internal structures, a spring. The internal structure is partially located inside the external structure and is configured to move inside the external structure. Part of the internal structure is therein located outside of the external structure. The spring provides a preset pressure, is connected with the internal structure and is positioned so as to compress when the internal structure moves inside the external structure. The internal structure therein causes deformation of the skin when the apparatus for measuring the elasticity is pressed to the skin and the internal structure moves inside the external structure. The end of the internal structure has a hole allowing skin to protrude into the hole. Part of the internal structure has broadenings configured to form a skin fold due to the movement of the internal structure of the apparatus in the external structure. The mirror is located inside the internal structure, configured to provide a view of the skin deformation at an angle. The system comprises a tool for measuring the elasticity of skin, an image recording apparatus, a processor. The image recording apparatus comprises an image generator for visualising the skin deformation and a light source for illuminating the skin deformation. The processor is configured to determine the degree of skin deformation in the image using image processing methods. The processor is also configured to determine the elasticity of skin based on the determined degree of skin deformation and the preset value of pressure. An image of the deformed skin is received when implementing the method. The value of pressure imparted onto the skin to cause skin deformation is received. The degree of skin deformation in the image is determined using image processing methods. The elasticity of skin is determined based on the degree of skin deformation and the value of pressure.

EFFECT: due to the described structural features of the apparatus, namely, provided broadenings of the internal structure for creating a skin fold, a mirror for a possibility of obtaining a view of the skin deformation at an angle, a possibility of measuring the elasticity of skin at home is provided.

14 cl, 12 dwg