Cellscope apparatus and methods for imaging

Abstract

An improved system and methods for enhancing the imaging of cameras included with wireless mobile devices, such as cellular phone or tablets. The imaging system includes a releasable optical attachment for imaging skin surfaces and cavities of the body. The releasable optical attachment comprises optical enhancement elements such as magnifying lenses, illumination diverting elements, and filters. Images can be viewed and analyzed on the mobile device, or transmitted to another location/device for analysis by a person or software. The results can be used to provide diagnosis, or for a variety of other applications including image comparison over time and product recommendations.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modular imaging apparatus for a portable wireless device having a built-in camera, the apparatus comprising:
 (a) a modular base member configured to be coupled to the portable wireless device having the built-in camera; and   (b) a releasable optical assembly;   (c) wherein the releasable optical assembly comprises:
 (i) a housing; 
 (ii) wherein the housing comprises an attachment surface for releasably coupling the releasable optical assembly to the modular base member; and 
 (iii) an optical transmission element; 
 (iv) wherein the optical transmission element is configured to modify the image taken by the built-in camera of the portable wireless device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the optical transmission element comprises a first optical transmission element configured to magnify the image. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the optical transmission element comprises a second optical transmission element configured to alter the illumination of the image. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 :
 wherein the first optical transmission element comprises a lens; and   wherein the housing is configured to house the lens in an alignment within an optical path of the built-in camera through an imaging port in the modular base.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 :
 wherein the portable wireless device further comprises an illumination source;   wherein the second optical transmission element comprises an optical fiber;   wherein the housing is configured to house the optical fiber in an alignment within the illumination path of the illumination source, through an optical port in the modular base; and   wherein the optical fiber is configured to alter the illumination path to enhance illumination of the image.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 :
 wherein the releasable optical assembly further comprises one or more optical filters coupled to the housing; and   wherein the housing is configured to house the one or more optical filters in an alignment within the one or more of the illumination path or optical path.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more optical filters comprises a filter comprising one or more of a polarizer, a neutral density filter, an aperture, or a spectral selection filter. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a speculum configured to interface with a body cavity of a patient;   wherein the speculum has a proximal end and distal free end;   wherein the speculum comprising a conical shape that tapers from the proximal end to the free end; and   wherein the proximal end of the speculum is configured to releasably attach to the housing of the releasable optical assembly.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 5 :
 wherein the housing comprises a cylindrical tube having a proximal end comprising the attachment surface;   wherein the cylindrical tube has an open distal end extending away from said modular base member when the imaging apparatus is attached to said modular base member;   wherein the cylindrical tube has a predetermined length corresponding to an optical characteristic of said lens and said built in camera; and   wherein the open distal end of the cylindrical body is configured to be positioned to contact a surface of a patient's skin to facilitate imaging of said skin surface.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 :
 wherein the optical fiber comprises one of a bundle of optical fibers;   wherein a diffuser is disposed between the optical fibers and the open distal end of the cylindrical tube; and   wherein the diffuser is configured to diffuse light propagated through the bundle of optical fibers.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a calibration module attached to said housing;   wherein the calibration module is disposed in a field of view of the optical path to provide calibration of the built in camera.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 :
 wherein the modular base member comprises an attachment surface for coupling the modular base member to the wireless device; and   wherein the modular base member comprises at least one imaging port configured to align with the built-in camera of the portable wireless device and an optical port configured to align with an illumination source on the portable wireless device to provide an imaging path and an optical path for imaging and illumination through the modular base member.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 4 :
 wherein the optical fiber comprises one of a bundle of optical fibers; and   further comprising a lens configured to direct light within the bundle of optical fibers.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 4 :
 wherein the optical fiber comprises one of a bundle of optical fibers; and   further comprising a filter configured to modulate light within the bundle of optical fibers.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a light source. 
     
     
         16 . A modular system for enhancing and post-processing images obtained from a portable wireless device having a built-in camera, the system comprising:
 (a) a modular base member configured to be coupled to the portable wireless device having the built-in camera;   (b) a releasable optical assembly, comprising:
 (i) a housing; 
 (ii) wherein the housing comprises an attachment surface for releasably coupling the releasable optical assembly to the modular base member; 
 (iii) an optical transmission element; 
 (iv) wherein the optical transmission element is configured to enhance an image taken by the built-in camera prior to the image being received the portable wireless device; and 
   (c) programming executable on said wireless device or other external device for:
 (i) receiving the enhanced image; and 
 (ii) post processing the enhanced image. 
   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein post processing comprises image normalization. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein image normalization comprises:
 calculating one or more of exposure and focus characteristics with a known feature; and   adjusting the image based on reference data from the image.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said programming is further configured for calibrating said built in camera as a function of optical characteristics releasable optical assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein said programming is further configured for:
 inputting data from the normalized image along with other image data; and comparing the data from the normalized image with the other image data to analyze said image.   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the other image data comprises images from similar images to the normalized image. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 :
 wherein the normalized image comprises an image of a person's skin; and   wherein the other image data comprises skin images from patients having similar skin characteristics.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein said programming is further configured for: transmitting said image to a secondary device to perform post processing. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the optical transmission element comprises a first optical transmission element configured to magnify the image and a second optical transmission element configured to enhance illumination of the image. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 :
 wherein the first optical transmission element comprises a lens;   wherein the housing is configured to house the lens in an alignment within an optical path of the built-in camera through an imaging port in the modular base;   wherein the portable wireless device further comprises an illumination source; wherein the second optical transmission element comprises an optical fiber;   wherein the housing is configured to house the optical fiber in an alignment within the illumination path of the illumination source through an optical port in the modular base; and   wherein the optical fiber is configured to alter the illumination path to enhance illumination of the image.   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 :
 wherein the releasable optical assembly further comprises one or more optical filters coupled to the housing; and   wherein the housing is configured to house the one or more optical filters in an alignment within the one or more of the illumination path or optical path.   
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the one or more optical filters comprises a filter comprising one or more of: a polarizer, a neutral density filter, an aperture, or a spectral selection filter. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a speculum configured to interface with a body cavity of a patient;   wherein the speculum has a proximal end and distal free end;   wherein the speculum comprises a conical shape that tapers from the proximal end to the free end; and   wherein the proximal end of the speculum is configured to releasably attach to the housing.   
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 25 :
 wherein the housing comprises a cylindrical tube having a proximal end comprising the attachment surface;   wherein the cylindrical tube has an open distal end extending away from said modular base member when the imaging apparatus is attached to said modular base member;   wherein the cylindrical tube has a predetermined length corresponding to an optical characteristic of said lens and said built in camera; and   wherein the open distal end of the cylindrical body is configured to be positioned to contact a surface of a patient's skin to facilitate imaging of said skin surface.   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 21 :
 wherein the normalized image comprises an image of a person's eardrum; and   wherein the other image data comprises images from patients having similar eardrum characteristics.