MXPA97009580A

MXPA97009580A - Method and apparatus for detecting and measuring conditions affecting co

Info

Publication number: MXPA97009580A
Application number: MXPA/A/1997/009580A
Authority: MX
Inventors: W Billmeyer Fred Jr; Macfarlane Darby; Kenneth Macfarlane David
Original assignee: W Billmeyer Fred Jr; Chromatics Color Sciences International Inc; Macfarlane Darby S; Kenneth Macfarlane David
Priority date: 1995-06-07
Filing date: 1997-12-05
Publication date: 1998-10-30

Abstract

A method and apparatus for determining the condition of a test subject based on color using a color measuring instrument, to detect the change of a color factor indicative of a condition such as disease, damage, aging, etc. A medical condition such as hyperbilirubinemia, which affects the color of the skin, can be detected. One values the color factors such as Hunter b and L in the skin color of the subjects. For predetermined ranges of a color factor, in particular L, changes in the other color factor, for example Hunter b, above the predetermined levels, are indicative of the medical condition. In many cases, a single measurement of the color factors can be used as a warning of the probability of the medical condition or contaminated, if the ordinary range of color factors is known for healthy individuals, with skin coloration similar to those of the test subject. Even if there is no baseline measurement and the color of the test subject is such that a single reading of one or two color factors does not warn of the possible presence of the medical condition or contamination, sequential readings may indicate the presence or absence of the condition based on changes in the measured color factor, or lack of changes. Color measurement techniques are applied to a wide range of biological test subjects (eg hair, teeth, tissue, excretions, food, soil, animals, plant

Description

ES $ METAND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING AND MEASURING CONDITIONS AFFECTING COLOR This is a continuation in part of US Patent Application Serial No. 08 / 239,733, which is a continuation in part of the US Patent Application Series No. 08 / 021,657, now patent No. 5,313,267. Series No. 08 / 021,657 is a continuation of Series No. 204,938 filed on June 6, 1988, a continuation of Series No. 904,369 filed on September 8, 1986, a continuation in part of the United States Patent Application. Series No. 833,661 filed February 21, 1986, which is a continuation of U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 514,618 filed July 18, 1983. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION, This invention relates to a metand apparatus for detecting and / or measuring a condition that affects the color of a test subject, and more particularly to a process and instrument for measuring at least one characteristic or color factor of a biological test subject indicative of the condition of interest. Visual observation of a subject to changes in coloration, indicative of a particular condition has occurred frequently. The subject can be a person or animal that is observed to determine the presence or absence of a medical condition. The characteristics of the color or a single color characteristic of other subjects test such as specimens for biopsy or excretion have a diagnostic value. An individual skin color of the person is often assessed by the doctor. Hypertension, tuberculosis, - sclerosis of the liver, just to name a few, are examples of diseases with symptomatic skin color changes among at least a segment of the measurable population. The assessment of hair color and the evaluation of tooth coloration are valuable. Those can relate to the health of the individual, or to the health of the individual's teeth and hair, or those can allow for exact cosmetic activities, for example, to counteract graying or to exactly match a new dental job to existing teeth. Similarly, the condition of plants and agricultural products is visually inspected for color as an indication of the condition. Soil pollution is likewise apparent from visual inspection. Such visual inspections are subjective. Measuring by instrument the color characteristics that are the key to visual inspection, has the benefit of objectivity and - - consistency. In the past, hyperbilirubinemia in newborns had been detected by visually observing an individual with jaundice or by routinely taking and testing a blood sample. After detection, hyperbilirubinemia had been treated by phototherapy. During the course of phototherapy, blood samples have been taken and tested at regular intervals until it has been determined that the serum bilirubin level has decreased to an acceptable level. In children, there is little blood available for use in the blood test for hyperbilirubinemia. So much blood is drawn that blood transfusions are often necessary to replace the blood drawn. Therefore the newborn is exposed to all the risks that come with blood transfusions. The blood sampling and transfusions are of course painful for the newborn, and as with any aggressive procedure, both present medical risks such as, for example, risk of infection. There is a need, therefore, for a reliable non-aggressive technique to detect and measure a medical condition that affects skin color such as hyperbilirubinemia.

- This is an example of the wide need for procedures and instruments to objectively and consistently determine a characteristic of color or a factor indicative of the condition of a test subject or indicative of a particular condition or disease. The met and apparatus of this invention can be employed where previously the visual inspection, of which examples are given above, have been carried out at least in part on the basis of the observable color characteristics. The exhibition of the United States Patents No. ,311,293 and 5,313,267 teach the measurement of the Hunter b value in skin coloration for the purpose of assigning individuals to one of several color compatibility categories as a means of determining compatibility with non-colored skin objects. The disclosure of U.S. Patent No. 4,909,632 to Macfarlane shows the measurement of the ratio of blue to yellow in skin coloration for the purpose of classifying an individual in the color compatibility categories. Matter that is not skin is classified by its compatibility with skin coloration of individuals so classified. The disclosure of U.S. Patent No. 4,029,085 suggests a method for determining the concentration of bilirubin in blood serum by measuring the reflectance of the skin at a number of specific wavelengths in the visible spectrum. The patent does not suggest the measurement of one or more values of the color factor, the establishment of a range of values of the color factor for comparison with a measured value, the measurement of a color factor at different points in time and determination of a change in the value of the measured color factor or the use of a value of the color factor of degree of clarity for the detection of a condition in a test subject. Germán Offenlegungschrift's exhibition of 38 27 457 Al suggests measuring the elements that carry pigment in the layers of the skin or hair by measuring "remission", which is said to return the radiation. The document mentions the possibility of using separate sensors to separate the spectral ranges. The document also mentions the use of the device for various medical assessments such as the measurement of bilirubin. However, there is no teaching of what should be measured for any of the aforementioned medical purposes. It also does not say what spectral regions should be detected for any particular purpose. In addition, the measurement of an indicative of the color factor of a medical condition, or any condition is not described. Other publications, such as those cited in the documents listed above, fail to suggest the measurement of the change in a value of the color factor reliably, or a quantification of the ratings that will indicate the condition for comparison purposes, or the effect that has clarity in the measurement, and how that effect can be addressed successfully. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to this invention there is provided a method and apparatus for detecting and quantitatively measuring a condition that affects the color of a test subject. The method includes measuring at least one color characteristic of the subject. In an exemplary method according to this invention, at least one characteristic of skin color is assessed at least at first and second points in time. To test hyperbilirubinemia, then the change of the two assessments is compared. In the preferred method, a second skin color characteristic is also assessed. Based on this measurement, the subject can be assigned to one of several categories, among which the variable amounts of change in the first characteristic of the skin color mentioned are indicative of the presence of a medical condition. The first characteristic is then observed for a change of sufficient measured value to indicate the medical condition for a subject in that category. Preferably, a base reading of at least the first color characteristic is first elaborated at the time in which the subject is without the characteristic of skin coloring, indicative of the medical condition by which he or she is tested. In the case of the detection of hyperbilirubinemia, the first characteristic of the color of the skin is Hunter b, which is a color factor that depends on the relative content, in one color, of two opposite colors, yellow and blue. The Hunter b is a factor comprising a first function (Y) valued in a first portion of the spectrum, the most yellow portion, a second function (Z) valued in a second portion of the spectrum, the bluedest portion, and a term of valuation (1 / Y1'-) which is a function of the clarity of a color and which decreases the value of the color factor by increasing slightly. Y and Z are part of three X, Y and Z trichromatic coefficients known by the color scientist for the purpose of defining a color. They are valuable by means of commercially available instruments such as colorimeters. In the case of newborns, the test for hyperbilirubinemia, the Hunter b readings and the Hunter L clarity measurement are made shortly after birth. These can provide the base reading since hyperbilirubinemia does not manifest immediately after birth. The first reading is preferably done within five hours, but as soon as possible after birth. Subsequent readings are then made during the following days. Subsequent readings of Hunter b are compared to the first reading of Hunter's baseline b to determine if Hunter b has increased to an extent that indicates a degree of hyperbilirubinemic jaundice characteristic for a person who has the rank of the clarity L of the subject's particular skin. L is assessed during each subsequent test to ensure it remains close to the original reading. This gives the degree of confidence that the test procedures were conducted appropriately. In the event that the medical condition that affects skin color is detected in a procedure similar to that described above for hyperbilirubinemia, then the measurement of skin color characteristics continues at regular intervals until the characteristic of the color symptomatic decreases sufficiently to indicate the recovery of the individual - - from the medical condition. In the case of hyperbilirubinemia, phototherapy is administered once a sufficient change in Hunter b is observed to indicate jaundice of hyperbilirubinemia. Then, throughout the entire course of phototherapy, the characteristics of Hunter b and L are monitored continuously until jaundice has been eliminated. This has the value of allowing early removal of the newborn below the phototherapy lamps, since there is a danger of damaging the eyes of the newborn in case of premature removal of the eye protection or accidental release. The apparatus used in accordance with this invention includes a color measuring device such as a colorimeter and computational means for storing and comparing the characteristic or characteristics that are evaluated when the condition is tested. A colorimeter capable of calculating Hunter b and L can be used, where Hunter b is assessed for the purpose of detecting hyperbilirubinemia. This can be a commercially available colorimeter with this ability. The computational means preferably have a sufficient memory to store one or more previous readings and must be programmed to compare the previous and current readings to detect changes in Hunter b and L.

Preferably, the colorimeter and the computational means are integrated in a single instrument, but the commercial colorimeter can be used in cooperation with, for example, a personal computer, which stores and can compare the values of Hunter by L from the values taken in regular intervals Similarly, computational means, either as an integrated part of the instrument or a separate computer, can be used to store the clarity ranges L and the increase in Hunter b which, for the various ranges of clarity, indicate an unacceptable increase in bilirubin in the serum. In a method according to the invention Hunter L and b are used to detect hyperbilirubinemia. The Hunter L is monitored for the consistency of each time the assessments are made. The change in Hunter b is monitored for a warning of hyperbilirubinemia. In another method according to the invention Hunter L, a and b are used. The Hunter L is monitored for consistency, the Hunter b is monitored for a warning of hyperbilirubinemia, and the Hunter a is observed for additional information such as the infant's condition. The ordinary ranges of Hunter a for individuals are known. If the Hunter a is outside the ordinary range, the reason for this must be determined. If this is because the infant blushes from crying or has bathed and dried, Hunter's variation from the norm is not an indication of a medical problem. If the Hunter a is above the ordinary range, but the infant has not been crying, has not recently bathed, phototherapy is not in progress, or some other non-medical reason, it is not apparent, a circulatory problem could be the reason. The situation leads the observation to observe if a medical condition is present. Also, Hunter a sometimes increases just before jaundice because hyperbilirubinemia increases the Hunter b. The Hunter, then, can be a warning, which calls for closer observation to see if a medical condition is present. A decrease in the Hunter in conjunction with an increase in both the Hunter L and the Hunter b such that the Hunter L to Hunter b ratio remains essentially constant, may mean that the infant is anemic and therefore pale, in In such case, the increase in Hunter b (with a simultaneous increase in Hunter L) would not be indicative of hyperbilirubinemia. Hunter's observation, then, may suggest various medical conditions and allows one to better understand the Hunter L and b readings and to be more certain whether or not they are indicative of hyperbilirubinemia. Preferably, each measurement of the characteristic of the color of the skin used to assess the presence or absence of the condition for which the test is carried out, is really an average of multiple tests. For example, when newborns are tested for jaundice that signals hyperbilirubinemia, multiple readings are made at multiple sites. Five or six readings of the Hunter value are made in, for example, each of the various locations, which may include some or all of a forehead location, at least in one location of the chest, one location of the cheeks and two locations in the back. The values outside the range of Hunter L, a and b are discarded. At each site, the Hunter readings that have the highest and lowest values of L, a and b are discarded, then all of the readings of each Hunter characteristic are averaged for each site. Subsequent readings are made in the same way in exactly the same places and compared. As used herein, the terms "Hunter a", "Hunter b", and "Hunter L" include such average values, but are not limited to the values attained by the average technique unless expressly so limited. Discarding and averaging are easily carried out by the computational provisions of the test equipment. The average technique can improve the test of something other than the skin color where the test steps of this invention are used, for example in the evaluation of the hair by measuring the color. In the skin color test, it is important to clean the site using a cleaning agent that does not contribute to any color. Similarly, when the test is carried out on test subjects other than the individual's skin, the test subject should be free of any contaminants that alter the color. In the skin color test, the site in the test subject must be dry, and in all cases the instrument must have the ability to be applied to the site in such a way that ambient light does not enter the instrument. The determination of the first and second skin color characteristics, Hunter L and b, at only one point at a time, can indicate or strongly suggest a medical condition that affects the color of the skin if the first characteristic measurement is observed to remain outside from a range of values for that characteristic known by experience to be normal to a subject having the particular value measured from the second characteristic. The value of Hunter should be observed again and if it is abnormal, the reason should be sought. For example, in many individuals hyperbilirubinemia is strongly suggested if Hunter b and L were measured and this - - determined that based on the skin color categories previously observed, Hunter b is above any ordinary value for a subject with the skin having the measured L value. Also, even if the baseline Hunter by L (and preferably a) readings are not made to establish values when jaundice is not present in the individual, changes in the value of Hunter b may nevertheless indicate the presence of hyperbilirubinemia if the values of Hunter values are made at regular intervals in the above manner. Out of the ordinary the increases in the Hunter b, or for example in two or more points, can be an indication of hyperbilirubinemia when the measured L value remains in a constant range from one measurement to the next. Similarly, large decrements in the Hunter ^ b, or for example two or more points, may be an indication of hyperbilirubinemia from which the infant is recovering, again if L remains relatively constant. If Hunter a changes due to a medical condition such as anemia and the proportion of Hunter L and Hunter b changes, then it is probably necessary to take anemia into account, for example by using a different change in Hunter b to indicate hyperbilirubinemia or by multiplying the Hunter b by a compensatory factor.

Significant testing has established the value of prior techniques in detecting hyperbilirubinemia; the same techniques will indicate other medical conditions that produce jaundice in human and animal subjects. Hepatitis or liver disorders are examples of such medical conditions susceptible to being diagnosed with the methods and apparatus of this invention. It has been observed that tuberculosis affects skin color in dark-skinned individuals such as many people of African descent. Proper color measurement according to this invention can provide a valuable diagnostic tool. The specimens of the biopsy, body fluids, excretions, etc. they are inspected visually by color. The techniques and instrumentation according to this invention can provide objectivity and consistency to such inspections. The above and other additional advantages of this invention will be better understood with reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment taken in combination with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The figure is an illustration of a block diagram of an instrument to determine the values of - - Hunter L, a and b and to compare changes of Hunter b with changes of Hunter b predetermined to be indicative of hyperbilirubinemia. Figure lb is a diagrammatic illustration of the exemplary memory content in an instrument similar to that of figure la. Figure 2 is a schematic illustration in a block diagram form illustrating the stages in the process of monitoring an infant for hyperbilirubinemia based on changes in Hunter b in skin color and by including the measurement and review of Hunter by L. Figure 3 is a schematic illustration in the form of a block diagram illustrating the stages in the process of monitoring an infant for hyperbilirubinemia based on the measurement that includes the Hunter by Hunter's review as well as the Hunter by L. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY Any modern version of two types in general of instruments that value the color, colorimeters and spectrophotometers, is an example of the suitable instruments for the measurement of the color of the skin according to a preferred modality of this invention. The basic components of any type of instruments are, a light source, a sample illumination, and an observation facility, means of selecting certain wavelengths of light for measurement, a detector of light reflected from the sample, and some relatively simple computing capacity. In commercially available instruments, the main purposes of computing capability are to store and apply the calibration information and to calculate various color coordinates for later use. In Figure la, a color measuring instrument 10 is illustrated. The skin of an individual person 11 is illuminated by the instrument as generally indicated by the broken line arrow 12, and the instrument receives illumination reflected from the skin. 11 as indicated generally by broken line arrow 13. Based on the illumination received by reflection from the skin, the instrument 10 develops the coordinates Y, x and y. In the figure the instrument 10 is a colorimeter, commercially available and suitable for the development of the coordinate values Y, x and y. Another type of instrument that can be used in the skin color categorization method according to this invention is the spectrophotometer that evaluates the reflectance of the skin at discrete wavelengths and from these data derives the trichromatic coefficients, starting from which can be used to calculate the Hunter color values used to measure skin color for diagnostic purposes as discussed below. The importation of the use of a commercial colorimeter of the kind used by the color measuring instrument 10 of the figure is the calibration of the instrument used as a standard. In the previous use of an instrument of this kind by the inventors, was used, the "Ligth Skin" sample from Macbeth Color Checker, described in the publication of C.S McCamy, H. Marcus, and J.G. Davidson, "A color -Rendition Chart" (A Color Interpretation Chart), J. Appl. Photogr. Eng. 2.95-99 (1976). A tile of this approximate color was selected for its greater durability as a standard instrument. It was found, however, that the use of the "Light Skin" wallpaper with the primary standard did not adequately prevent the phenomenon known as metamerism, whereby objects that look alike (have the same perceived color) under some types of light sources , or for some observers, they are not matched under other types of light sources, or for other observers. By means of this phenomenon the colorimeters can not read their colors just as the average human observer could under the light source of the type of daylight usually used for visual observation. This could lead to an error in the calibration of the colorimeter. As an improved primary standard, the skin was selected from a subject whose skin color evaluations were highly reproducible, and in the approximate center of the range of skin colors of the human population. The spectral reflectance factors of this subject's skin were carefully measured on a Plus Macbeth 1500 spectrometer (Macbeth, New Windsor, New York); these data are given in column 2 (second from the left) of Table I at the wavelengths listed in column 1 (the leftmost column). By using well-established computer color matching techniques, carried out in an ACS 1800 system equipped with an ACS Spectrocensor II color measurement instrument (Datacolor International, Lawrenceville, New Jersey), a dye formulation was developed that matches this skin color. The spectral reflectance factors for this match are given in column 3 of Table I. It can be seen that the data are closely matched to those in column 2, which indicate the absence of metamerism. The calculations according to the CIÉ system 1976 CIELAB showed that the two data sets are equalized within the units 0.27-0.36, lower than what can be perceived by the vision of the - - human color, for daylight, incandescent light and cold white fluorescent light, the three most commonly used light sources for the proposed applications. The aforementioned formulation was made in a durable, stable material and the slabs were prepared as instrument standards. The spectral reflectance factors of one of these slabs are given in column 4 of Table I. It was found, however, that the improvement in the calibration resulted in the color coordinates that were significantly different from those obtained in several studies made with the previous system. A decision was made to adjust the calibration values of the new slabs to achieve consistent results between new and old calibration methods. Column 5 of Table I gives the adjusted set of the spectral reflectance factors for the slab in column 4. The coordinates of the color Hunter and CIÉ, for the measurement with the specular component excluded and calculated by the illuminator C standard CIÉ and the standard observer CIÉ 2 ° 1931, are also tabulated for each of the samples in the table.

- - TABLE 1 With the appropriate standard, basically, the calibration is carried out by forcing the colorimeter 10 to give the desired color coordinates Y, x and y above, while the colorimeter is used with the chosen standard slab. The calibration method is known by particular instruments and follows a series of steps prescribed by the manufacturer, which do not need to be detailed here. In a skin color test, before each test of a subject, each test site is cleaned. A cleaning agent, such as isopropyl alcohol, which does not leave behind coloring, is suitable. The site dries well to avoid any moisture that interferes with the reflection of light from the skin 11 to the instrument 10. In all test cases, with the instrument properly calibrated, the measuring head or the hole of the instrument is placed against the instrument. Test site to be measured. Caution is taken to avoid the admission of ambient light to the instrument. Pressing the head firmly against the test site prevents the entry of ambient light. In addition, it was determined that better results are obtained if one briefly removes the instrument from the test site, between the illuminations. This can be provided in software by a conventional dilatory routine and, if desired, with an appropriate deployment that instructs the user to briefly remove the instrument far from the skin. In a colorimeter of the type shown in FIG. 1a, in block 10 the instrument has an internal microprocessor or other computing ability in such a way that it is available to develop the color coordinates Y, x and y from the measured values X, Y and Z (where Y is the same in each case). Certain colorimeters develop the color coordinates Hunter L, a, and b. Since the degree of - - computation running internally in the color measuring device 10 (ie, colorimeter or spectrometer) varies, how to calculate the Hunter values from the trichromatic coordinates are useful for an understanding and practice of the invention and will allow the use correct of a CPU by the proper calculation to carry out the invention with any commercially available colorimeter or spectrometer. The most modern color measuring instruments begin with the measurement of the X, Y, and Z trichromatic values. From these, the CIÉ chromaticity coordinates x and y can be derived. x = X / (X + Y + Z) (1) y = Y / (X + Y + Z) (2) The instrument 10 of the figure emits the triple of values x, y and Y as the starting point for additional calculations by a central processing unit, which can be dedicated to a microprocessor circuitry or a personal computer 15. The two remaining trichromatic values X and Z are available by computer as follows: X = xY / y, y (3) Z = (1-xy) Y / y (4) In the preferred mode, in any event, the CPU according to the figure is developed by the Hunter value b - - discovered according to this invention to be capable of being used to detect and monitor hyperbilirubinemia. The value of Hunter b is one of three values derived by Richard S. Hunter in 1958. Richard S. Hunter "Photoelectric Color Difference Meter", J. Opt. Soc. Am. 48,985-995 (1958). The equations for these are: L - 10 (Y) 1/2 (5) a = 17.5 (1.02 X - Y) / Y1 / 2 (6) b = 7.0 (Y - 0.847 Z) / Y1 / 2 (7) where L is a coordinate of luminosity, whose values correlate better with the visual perceptions of the luminosity of the object colors than the values of Y; a is a coordinate that denotes reddish or greenish, for which positive values denote that the color is red instead of its opposite green color, and the negative values of a denote the opposite; b is a yellowish-blue coordinate, for which the positive values denote that the color is yellow instead of its opposite blue color, and the negative values of b denote the opposite. For the yellow colors, when starting with a = b = 0 and at a high value of L appropriate, which would be a light green, and by increasing the positive values of b, it results in a series of colors that could be described as light yellowish green, pale yellow, light yellow, bright yellow, and bright yellow. In this way b - 2 - it is a measurement of the "intensity" of the yellow color. Historically, the three values of Hunter, a, b, and L, have been used to describe a color. The inventors determined that one can use the L measurement of Hunter's skin luminosity and the comparative determinations of Hunter's value b developed at time intervals to measure jaundice that is symptomatic of hyperbilirubinemia and by that measurement of jaundice detect the presence or absence of the disease. The coordinate b provides a reliable measurement of the yellow off color of the human skin color. This does not mean that Hunter a and Hunter L should be ignored, but they are not used in the usual way to define a color. In the particular installation of figure 1, wherein the colorimeter 10 produces the values Y, x, y, computer 15 derives the values of Hunter L and b. Characteristic L of Hunter's luminosity skin color affects the amount of increase in Hunter's yellow measurement b that indicates hyperbilirubinemia. Following the procedure shown in figure 2, steps 1 through 4 and preferably using an average technique described below, a newborn is assessed, preferably within 2-5 or 2-6 hours of birth, to establish the values of the baseline, initial of Hunter L and b, Lo and b0. A baseline of Hunter a, a0, can be calculated at this time, also for the purpose explained below. In step 3, values outside the range are discarded, that is, values outside the range of 20 > L > 80, 2 > a > 50 and 2 > b > 40. In stage 4, the highest and lowest values of Hunter a and b are discarded from each site. The values are recorded, in step 5, for example by means of the location in the memory of the machine 17. From here on, once again using the average technique described below, through the following several days, they are valued the Hunter L and b (already, if used) at intervals as represented by stage 6 of Figure 2. L is compared to the originally measured value as indicated in step 7. This should not vary more than 3 to 5 points (depending on the range of L that is measured) or the test is discontinued as in step 8. This is unless there is another explanation. Except when discontinued as explained above, Hunter b is compared in stage 9 with the value of the baseline established shortly after birth. As determined in step 10, if Hunter L remains consistent, if at any time Hunter b increases two or more points for skins with L values at or below approximately 51 or three points or more for skins with values L above approximately 51, then hyperbilirubinemia is indicated, a confirmatory blood test must be carried out, and phototherapy, the usual treatment for this condition, can be prescribed. Hunter increments b can be used from one to two points for L values at or below approximately 51 and Hunter increments b from two to three points for L values above approximately 51, such as red indicators or warning signs that require closer supervision. When it is found that the value of the Hunter L measured at any time has varied more than 3-5 points, it is suspected that the test procedure and the test may be discontinued. Variations of Hunter L of this magnitude do not occur ordinarily in measurements of skin color. Unless this change can be explained by a change in the condition of the subject (such as anemia or phototherapy treatment, which could clarify the ranges and measurements of the complete skin color of the subjects, but in the direct proportion of L and b) the test could be suspect. But if the change in the Hunter L can be explained as above, then an adjustment factor could be used to calculate L and b. During phototherapy, then the test procedure according to this invention can be used with an adjustment factor for the clarity of skin color while illuminating under phototherapy. As indicated, it has been a practice of the inventors to require additional measurement of the Hunter a in each test. The best procedure in which the Hunter is used is illustrated in Figure 3. Again the average technique is preferably used as described below. On the basis that the skin color of several million individuals was tested, the inventors have identified about 210 broad categories of skin coloration. That is to say, 210 wide ranges of Hunter L, a and b have been identified. The values of Hunter L and b for each of these categories are shown in Table II, Appendix A therein. Table III below provides the Hunter ranges that are reasonably expected. For certain values of L, a particular value of the Hunter a above has not typically been observed. Because the test indicates a Hunter outside any previously observed range for a particular L and b, this should be taken as at least one additional indication of some disorder in a subject's condition if the value of the Hunter a can not be taken otherwise. , for example, from crying or drying after bathing. This occurrence is represented in stage 7 of figure 3. The measurement of the Hunter a may have the additional value of a warning that the jaundice associated with hyperbilirubinemia may occur instantly since, at the same time, the Hunter will increase in fair value before the increases of the Hunter b. If, then, an infant has not been crying (which raises the Hunter to), and there is an increase in the Hunter a, the Hunter b allows observation of signs of hyperbilirubinemia. TABLE III If the values of the Hunter L Then the values of the are: Hunter a are: 24 (or less) to 44 4 to 6 45 to 54 4 to 18 54 to 59 5 to 25 60 to 71 (or more) 6 to 30 As mentioned, an average technique is used for greater accuracy. The multiple readings of Y, x and y are made with the colorimeter 10 in several different sites. For example, the measurements are made in one or more locations, on the forehead, cheek, chest and back of some or all of the subjects, as suggested in the steps of the method illustrated in Figure 2. In a preferred embodiment, they are made 5 or 6 readings in each of the 5 different sites. The values of Hunter a, b and L are calculated for each reading. For example, the high and low values of a, b and L from each site are discarded by the computer or the computational conditions of the instrumentation of figure a. The instrument or computer 15 then averages all remaining values of Hunter a, b and L for each site. The average of a, b and L calculated for each site are then used as the values of Hunter a, b and L in the test previously described for hyperbilirubinemia. Some variation of the b-value occurs depending on the location of the body where the readings are taken. Consistently averaging Hunter a, b, and L values calculated from measurements taken at the same various locations in each individual can be used to eliminate any uncertainty resulting from such variations. Consistent measurement of consistent sites is essential throughout the entire procedure. A hospital measurement of serum bilirubin typically uses a different scale from the Hunter b measurement detected by the procedure above. In extensive tests in a hospital, a linear relationship was observed between the serum bilirubin measured using the hospital scale and the measurement of Hunter b according to the invention. In the hospital, the value of serum bilirubin was 12, which indicates the supervision or treatment of hyperbilirubinemia. Steps 12-15 of Figure 2 and 13-16 of Figure 3 calculate the level of serum bilirubin from the above procedures and compare them with the determination made by the blood test. The correlation between Hunter by the serum bilirubin calculation (BRC) was determined to be in accordance with the following equation: BRC = 2.5 ([ { 47 / L.}. 1 2 b] -6.8) (8) where BRC equals the bilirubin count in the hospital, the number 47 is the average of L for the entire database grouped above the search course, and L and b are the average of the Hunter values determined as described above. The term in brackets modifies b according to the value L relative to its average, in this case 47, according to a function of the square root (supra index 1/2). It would be easier to understand the above equation if it were written differently. If the modified b (in the bracket) '-is called MODB: MODB = 6.8 + 0.4 BRC (9) The numbers 6.8 and 0.4 (= 1 / 2.5) are, respectively, the intercept and the slope of the relationship in a straight line between the modified b and BRC. 6.8 is the value of MODB when BRC = 0 and is related to the average color of the skin in baseline. The 0.4 shows how fast the MODB changes as the BRC increases, an increase of 2.5 in BRC raises the MODB by one point. The equation is only exemplary and can vary in detail when applied to a large database or to bilirubin calculation values from another hospital, since hospitals do not have a standard scale consistently used from one hospital to the next. However, the linear relationship between MODB and BRC indicates relatively the direct conversion of L and b measured to arrive at a calculation value of bilirubin in a particular hospital so that the medical practitioner can employ the optical measurement of jaundice according to to this invention in the same way that he or she previously used the bilirubin calculation. In the system of Figure 1, following the routine of Figure 2, from the initial measurement preferably within 2-5 or 2-6 hours of birth, the CPU calculates the initial Hunter values L;, a0 and bo and stores them in the signals of the baseline values of the data portion or RAM of the memory 17. The data RAM (or non-program) portion 18 of the memory 17 is indicated in FIG. figure lb. A relatively permanent section 18a of RAM 18 stores the data in Table II (and Table III, if the Hunter is to be verified) and data such as the ranges of L that establish the skin color categories, for which are significant changes in the variation of Hunter's value b. A segment of the revised memory stores more often the results of the measurements carried out with the instrument. Based on the relatively direct programs retained in the permanent ROM, from the measurements taken in intervals, the CPU calculates the new values of L, a, and b (or L and b to follow the procedure of Figure 2), recover L0, a0 and b0, and subtract those from the new values of Li, ai and ba. The change in the Hunter L, a and b,? L,? A and? B, can be displayed, or preferably, the CPU determines whether the change in L indicates an error when comparing the change in L with that of the value stored in RAM 18 of memory 17, which raises the suspicion of an error in the test. If there is no suspicion of error, then the CPU determines if an increase in b is above the value, it would again be stored in memory, which indicates the supervision or treatment of hyperbilirubinemia for the particular value of L that has been measured. Similarly, for an infant who has been previously diagnosed with hyperbilirubinemia and is undergoing phototherapy, the same order of decrement within 2 or 3 baseline points, depending on L, may indicate that recovery and phototherapy can finish. The memory 17 of the CPU can be provided with Table II, or with another compilation of the skin coloration categories, in which the CPU can then use it as a look-up table to determine if the Hunter a has a value outside of the ranges previously observed for the particular Hunter L and b. Also, if desired, the CPU can calculate and display the hospital measurement of serum bilirubin based on the changes in the Hunter b, for example by applying equation 8 above. Even in the absence of an initial reading, based on the observed ranges of skin coloration, measurement of either Hunter L and bo, a and b can prevent the likelihood of hyperbilirubinemia if a Hunter value is measured, which is in excess of Hunter b ordinarily observed for subjects with that value of L. The Hunter b values exceeding those ordinarily observed for individuals in a particular range of values of Hunter L can be determined with reference to Table II. For example, it will be apparent that no individual whose skin has a Hunter L value between 24 and 26 has measured above 13 in Hunter b. Such a measurement can be used to determine what a blood test is convenient. In all cases, however, even where a baseline Hunter b has not been established, an increase in time of 2, 3 or more Huncer points b indicates the likelihood of hyperbilirubinemia, and if the change is a decrease, This is indicative of a newborn's recovery. Table IV is a real set of measurements made in a three-day infant. Using the average technique described above, Hunter L of 48.0 and Hunter b of 11.1 are calculated. When calculating the hospital bilirubin calculation in equation (8) above, a 10.5 bilirubin calculation was calculated.

TABLE IV L a b Y X y Front 47.8 21.6 11.6 22.9 0.411 0.333 48. 6 19.5 11.5 23.6 0.404 0.335 48. 8 21.2 11.6 23.8 0.407 0.333 46. 7 21.6 11.6 21.8 0.413 0.333 48. 6 21.6 11.8 23.6 0.410 0.333 48. 0 22.1 11.7 23.1 0.412 0.332 Front 46.4 20.5 11.2 21.5 0.409 0.333 46. 0 20.3 11.1 21.1 0.409 0.333 47. 4 21.4 11.6 22.4 0.411 0.333"46.1 21.4 10.7 21.2 0.409 0.330 46. 3 20.4 11.2 21.5 0.409 0.333 46. 9 20.7 11.3 22.0 0.409 0.333 Chest 50.5 16.5 11.2 25.5 0.391 0.336 50. 9 15.3 11.2 25.9 0.388 0.338 50. 1 17.5 11.2 25.1 0.395 0.336 50. 7 16.9 11.2 25.7 0.392 0.336 50. 4 16.4 11.1 25.4 0.391 0.336 50. 1 17.3 11.1 25.1 0.394 0.335 Back 49.0 17.1 11.1 24.0 0.395 0.336 48. 7 16.3 11.0 23.7 0.394 0.337 48. 3 16.6 10.6 23.3 0.393 0.335 49. 2 16.6 10.9 24.2 0.393 0.336 49. 1 18.3 11.3 24.1 0.399 0.335 50. 0 18.0 11.4 25.0 0.397 0.336 L a b Y X y Back 46.2 15.8 10.5 21.4 0.395 0.337 45.3 16.5 10.2 20.5 0.397 0.335 45.9 16.0 10.4 21.1 0.395 0.336 45.5 14.4 10.3 20.7 0.392 0.338 46.3 16.1 11.0 21.4 0.398 0.339 47.3 16.9 10.9 22.3 0.397 0.336 The invention can give good evidence of jaundice resulting from different medical conditions of hyperbilirubinemia. For example, liver disorders in adults and children produce jaundice. These and other characteristics of skin color can be factors in the diagnosis of additional diseases that affect skin color. It has been observed, for example, that at least among individuals with dark skin, such as African Americans or other African descendants, their skin color is affected by tuberculosis. The application of the method and apparatus is not limited to the test related to jaundice described above. Experiments with rhesus monkeys have shown a correlation between hormone levels and the coloration of the female monkey is highly visible reddish on the butt end. An instrument such as that described above was available to distinguish the variation of the reddish levels in a subsequent individual test of the subject using Hunter a and Hunter L in a manner similar to that described above. The subject's hormone level was thus indicated by the methods and apparatus of this invention. Successful experimentation began in the evaluation of the condition of the laboratory mice based on the use of Hunter a and Hunter L in a similar way to that described above. Table V, Appendix b, is a broad categorization of human hair coloration. In addition to the use of the diagnosis, the test procedures and instruments according to this invention can be used to determine how to restore the hair to its natural color, or with reference to the categories in Table V, hair that has been changed by gray hair, or by discoloring, or drying out can be restored to a more natural appearance, whether the original coloration of the test subject or a chosen color is consistent with the limitation of the categories identified in Table V. Almost in the same way, the Teeth coloring can be measured by this invention and the techniques described can be used to obtain the natural coloration of restoration of dental work consistent with existing or replaced teeth. Plants and crop specimens are good candidates for the application of procedures - - and apparatuses of the invention. For example, the conditions that lead to the degradation of the grains stored in the granaries are observable based on the color change. It becomes possible to determine these conditions by the instrument by the techniques of the present invention, and this opens the way to automatically monitor for this purpose. Soil samples from the oil spill when measured by these procedures and appliances indicate the degree of contamination of the soil by oil or gasoline. The proof of such soil contamination has been carried out successfully. The biological test subjects of a wide variety can be tested by means of the present invention. From the foregoing it should be apparent that the methods and apparatuses described are examples and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

APPENDIX A TABLE II * The designation -5 means less than 5 but greater than 4. ** The designation 12+ means greater than 12 but less than 13 APPENDIX B TABLE V * In this table negative values are used in the ordinary sense to denote values less than zero. - -

Claims

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION Having described the present invention, it is considered as a novelty and therefore the property described in the following claims is claimed as property. An apparatus for detecting a condition in a test subject, whose condition includes a symptomatically detectable change in the coloration of the test subject, with the apparatus of the class including means for measuring the value of at least one color factor in the coloration of the subject, the apparatus being characterized by: (a) means for measuring, at a first point in time, a value of at least one color factor in the coloration of the test subject, said color factor being dependent, at less in part, in relative content of one or more colors in said coloration; (b) means for measuring, at least at an additional point in time, a value of said at least one color factor in the coloration of the test subject; (c) means for comparing the values of said at least one color factor measured at said first and second additional points in time to arrive at a change value in said at least one color factor; and (d) means for comparing the value of change in said at least one color factor with a preset measurement of said at least one change of value of color factor evidencing said condition.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the test subject is an infant and the condition is hyperbilirubinemia; further characterized by said measuring means for measuring at least one additional point in time, comprising means for establishing a baseline measurement for said infant by measuring a value of said at least one color factor in the coloring of the infant in a first point in time following birth, when the jaundice resulting from hyperbilirubinemia generally does not occur in an infant, and said means for comparing comprise means for comparing the value of said baseline measurement of the color factor at said first point in time with the value measured at said additional point in time to determine if a change in it of a predetermined magnitude has been exhibited for that particular infant.
The apparatus according to any of claims 1 or 2 further characterized by said means for comparing the values of said at least one color factor comprising means for comparing the value of change in said at least one color factor with a measure preestablished of a change in the value of the color factor that evidences this condition and that is correlated to a measure of said condition that has clinical utility.
The apparatus according to any of claims 1 or 2 further characterized by said means for comparing the values of said at least one color factor comprising means for arriving at a change value in said at least one color factor which is correlative, in subjects who have colorations of degrees of clarity that vary substantially, for a measure of said condition that has established a clinical utility.
The apparatus according to any of claims 1 or 2 further characterized by means for establishing a plurality of coloration classes, wherein a predetermined amount of a change in the value of said at least one color factor is indicative of said condition, said predetermined amount differing indicative of the condition of one kind of coloration to another; and said means for comparing the values d, said at least one color factor comprising means for comparing the values of said at least one color factor measured in said first and said additional points in time to determine whether a change has been exhibited in them of the predetermined magnitude evidenced by said condition for the particular coloring class of said test subject.
6. An apparatus for detecting a condition in a test subject, whose condition includes a symptomatic coloration, the apparatus being of the class that includes - 4 - means for measuring the value of at least one color factor in the coloration of the subject, the apparatus being characterized by: (a) means for measuring a value in said coloration of the test subject of at least one color factor, said factor being color dependent on said coloration; Y (b) means for comparing the measured value of said at least one color factor with a predetermined range of values of said at least one color factor to determine whether said measured value of said at least one color factor evidences said condition in said test subject.
The apparatus according to claim 6 further characterized by, said means for measuring the value of said at least one color factor comprising means for measuring a value in said coloration of the test subject of at least one color factor, said at least one color factor dependent on said coloration and correlative, in the test subjects having colorations of degrees of clarity or darkness that vary substantially, for a measure of said condition having a clinical utility.
The apparatus according to claim 6 further characterized in that: said means for measuring the value of said at least one color factor comprising means for measuring a value of the color factor, which is substantially that of the Hunter b factor of color in - said coloring of said test subject; and means for comparing the measured value of said at least one color factor comprising means for comparing the value of said at least one color factor with a range of acceptable values of said at least one color factor which are indicative of the presence or absence of said condition in a subject to determine whether the measured value of said at least one color factor remains outside or within said range.
The apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said means for measuring the value of said at least one color factor comprises means for measuring the value of a color factor that is dependent on the relative content of the opposite colors. in said coloration and in the clarity of said coloration.
The apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 6, or 9 characterized in that said means for measuring the value of said at least one color factor comprises means for measuring the value of a color factor comprising a first function valued at a first portion of the spectrum, a second function valued in a second portion of the spectrum, and a valuation term that is a function of clarity of said coloration and that modifies the value of said color factor.
The apparatus according to any of claims 1, 3, or 6 characterized in that said means for measuring the value of said at least one color factor comprises means for measuring the value of a color factor that is dependent on the relative content of the opposite colors in said coloration.
The apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 6, 9 or 10, further characterized by, means for establishing a plurality of classes of colorations, in each of which a predetermined amount of change in the value of said at least one Color factor is indicative of such condition.
The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, 6, 9 or 10, characterized in that said means for measuring the value of said at least one color factor comprise means for measuring the value of a color factor that is dependent on of the relative content of blue and yellow in said coloration.
The apparatus according to any of claims 1, 2, 6, 9 or 10, characterized in that said means for measuring the value of said at least one color factor comprise means for measuring the value of a color factor that is dependent on of the relative content of red and green in said coloration.
15. The apparatus according to any of claims 1, 2, 6, 9 or 10, characterized in that said means for measuring the value of said at least one color factor comprise means for measuring the value of a color factor that is dependent on the content relative to the yellowness of the test subject's coloration.
16. The apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 6, 9 or 10, characterized in that said means for measuring the value of said at least one color factor comprise means for measuring the value of a color factor, which is substantially that of the color factor Hunter b.
The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, 9 or 10, characterized in that said means for measuring the value of said at least one color factor comprise means for measuring the value of a color factor that is dependent on of the reddish color of the test subject.
The apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 7, or 10, characterized in that said means for measuring the value of said at least one color factor comprise means for measuring the value of a color factor comprising a first valued function in a first portion of the spectrum and a second function evaluated in a second portion of the spectrum, the color factor being further dependent on the clarity of the coloration of the test subject.
The apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said means for measuring the value of said at least one color factor comprise means for measuring a value of a first color factor, which is substantially that of the factor Hunter color b, and the apparatus further comprising means for measuring a value of a second color factor, which is substantially that of the color factor Hunter a, means for comparing the measured value of said second color factor with a range of values of said second color factor, and means for continuing detection of the condition only if the measured value of said second color factor remains within an acceptable range.
20. The apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 6, 9, or 10 characterized in that said means for measuring the value of said at least one color factor comprise means for measuring a color factor value, which is substantially that of color factor Hunter a.
The apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 6, 9, or 10 characterized in that said means for measuring the value of said at least one color factor comprise means for measuring at least one color factor value having a first function valued in a more yellow portion of the spectrum and a second function valued in a more blue portion of the spectrum.
22. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the condition is a medical condition that includes a symptomatic detectable change in the coloration of a test subject.; said apparatus further being characterized by the means for establishing a baseline measurement for said test subject by measuring a value of said at least one color factor in the coloration of the test subject when a symptomatic detectable change is generally not present in the test subject. the coloration resulting from the medical condition in a test subject, and said means for comparing the means of understanding to compare the value of said at least one baseline measurement of color factor and said value of said at least one color factor at said additional point in time to determine if a change in it of a predetermined magnitude has been exhibited for this particular test subject.
The apparatus according to claim 6 further characterized by, means for establishing a range of color factor values characteristic of subjects without said condition and means for comparing said value range with said at least one determined color factor. by said means for measurement.
The apparatus according to any of claims 1, 2, 9, or 10 further characterized by: means for measuring a factor of clarity at said first and additional points in time; and means for compensating for any change in the value of said at least one color factor for significant clarity variations.
25. The apparatus according to claim 1 further characterized by said means for comparing the value of change in said at least one color factor comprising means for comparing the value of change in said at least one color factor with stored color changes. which comprise a plurality of kinds of colorations which are colorations within the range of variation of clarity.
26. The apparatus according to claim 6 further characterized by said means for comparing the measured value of said at least one color factor comprising means for comparing the measured value of said at least one color factor with a range of said values. at least one characteristic color factor of the subjects without said condition.
The apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 5, 9, or 10, further characterized in that: said means for measuring the value of said at least one color factor comprises means for measuring a color factor value, which is substantially that of the Hunter color factor b in said coloration of said test subject, and said means for comparing the value of change in said at least one color factor comprising means for comparing said value with a range of said values. change of color factor which are indicative of the presence or absence of said condition in a subject to determine whether the measured value of said color factor change remains within or outside said range.
28. An apparatus for detecting a condition of a test subject, the condition includes a symptomatic detectable coloration, the apparatus of the class being that it includes the measurement of the value of a color factor in the coloring of the subject; the improvement being characterized by: means for compiling a group of value ranges of color factor of clarity measurement; and means for associating with each range of color factor value of clarity measure at least one value of an additional color factor to be used in the comparison with at least one measurement of that additional color factor value in the coloration of a test subject that has a value of the color factor of measure of clarity within said range.
29. The apparatus according to claim 28, characterized in that the apparatus is for the detection of hyperbilirubinemia in a test subject based on the skin coloring of said test subject; the apparatus is further characterized in that: said means for measuring a value of each of the measures of clarity and additional color factors in the skin coloring of the test subject comprise means for measuring a color factor value of clarity measurement being substantially that of the color factor Hunter L and an additional color factor value being substantially that color factor Hunter b; said means for associating comprise means for comparing the measured value of said additional color factor with a range of acceptable values of said additional color factor which are found in the subjects having skin coloration corresponding to a particular measured value, of said clarity color factor in said test subject to determine if the measured value of said additional color factor remains outside or within the range; and means for storing a range of acceptable values, selected from ranges substantially as follows: where the designation -5 means less than 5 but greater than and the designation +12 means greater than 12 but less than
30. In an apparatus for determining a color characteristic; the improvement being characterized by: (a) means for compiling a group of value ranges of color factor of clarity measurement; and (b) means for associating with each range of value of color factor of clarity measurement at least one value of an additional color factor to be used in the comparison with at least one measurement of that value of additional color factor in the coloration of a test subject having a value of the color factor of measure of clarity within said range.
31. The apparatus according to any of claims 28 or 30, further characterized in that said means for compiling comprise means for compiling ranges that are selected from ranges substantially equivalent to the following: Hunter L = < 27.27 a < 30.30 a < 33.33 a < 36, 36 a < 39.39 a < 42.42 a < 45.45 a < 48.48 a < 51.51 a < 54.54 a < 57,57 to < 60, 60 a < 63, 63 a < 66, 66 a < 69, and > 69.
32. The apparatus according to any of claims 28 or 30, further characterized in that: said means for compiling comprises means for compiling the values of the color factor of clarity measurement substantially those of the color factor Hunter L; said means for associating comprise means for associating the value of an additional color factor, which is substantially that of color factor Hunter a in a ratio between the ranges of the value of color factor of measure of clarity and also associated with the values of color factor substantially equivalent to the following: Hunter L Hunter at 24 (or less) at 44 4 at 6 45 at 54 4 at 18 55 at 59 5 at 25 60 at 71 (or more) 6 at 30
33. The apparatus according to any of claims 28 or 30, it is further characterized in that: said means for compiling comprises means for compiling the values of color factor of clarity measurement being substantially those of the color factor Hunter L; said means for associating comprise means for associating at least one color factor having a value, which is substantially that of the color factor Hunter b in a relationship between said ranges of the value of the color factor of measure of clarity and said values of the additional color factor associated substantially equivalent to the following: where the designation -5 means less than 5 but greater than and the designation +12 means greater than 12 but less than a.
34. The apparatus according to any of claims 28 or 30, further characterized by, said value of the additional color factor which is substantially that of the color factor Hunter by being the ranges of the value of the color factor of measurement of clarity ranges of values of a color factor substantially that of the color factor Hunter L, the apparatus further comprises means for measuring a value of a color factor, which is substantially that of the color factor Hunter L, in said coloring of the test subject.
35. The apparatus according to claim 34, characterized in that said coloration is a coloration of the skin and said apparatus is further characterized by means for establishing a plurality of coloring classes that include a first class of skin coloration having a. value of the color factor, which is substantially that of the color factor Hunter L at or substantially less than 51 and a second kind of skin color having a color factor value substantially that of the color factor Hunter L substantially above 51.
36. The apparatus according to claim 35, further characterized in that said kind of colorations are defined by the ratio between the values of said color factor, which is substantially that of the color factor Hunter L and the values of said color factor substantially that of the Hunter color factor b, said relationship being substantially equivalent to the following: where the designation -5 means less than 5 but greater than and the designation +12 means greater than 12 but less than a.
37. The apparatus according to any of claims 1, 6, 28 or 30, further characterized in that the apparatus is an apparatus for detecting a condition in a biological test subject.
38. The apparatus according to claim 37, further characterized in that the apparatus is an apparatus for detecting a condition in a biological test subject that is a human, animal, plant or soil test subject.
39. The apparatus according to claim 37, further characterized in that the apparatus is an apparatus for detecting a condition in a biological test subject that is selected from the group consisting of tissue, excretions, body fluids, hair and teeth.
40. The apparatus according to claim 22 further characterized in that said means for measuring said value at least one color factor comprises means for measuring as a measure of baseline a value of said at least one color factor in said coloring of the test subject at a first point in time when a detectable, symptomatic change in coloration resulting from the medical condition is not usually found in a test subject.
41. The apparatus according to any of claims 5 or 12, further characterized in that said coloring classes are determined by ranges of - - values of a color factor, which are substantially those of the Hunter L color factor; said ranges of said color factor values being linked by at least one of the values substantially equivalent to the following: Hunter L = 27,30,33,36,39,42,45,48,51,54,57, 60 , 63, 66 and 69.
42. An apparatus for evaluating a test subject based on the coloration of said test subject, the apparatus characterized by: means for measuring a value of a first color factor in said subject's coloration. of test, said first color factor being dependent on the clarity of the coloration of said test subject; and means for measuring a value of at least one additional color factor in said coloration of the test subject, said additional color factor being dependent on the relative content of opposite colors in the coloration of said test subject; wherein at least one value of the color factor comprises a value of said color factor that correlates to a color measurement having established a laboratory utility.
43. The apparatus according to claim 42, characterized in that it also comprises means for comparing the measured values of said first color factor and said at least one additional color factor with a range of values of said color factors that are found in the colorations. of the subjects different from said test subjects, to determine where they remain within said range of measured values of said color factors.
44. The apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 6, 9, 10, 42 or 43, characterized in that said means for measuring the value of a color factor comprise means for making a multiple measurement set of the value of the color factor. and means for averaging each set of multiple measurements.
45. The apparatus according to claim 28 further characterized in that said at least one additional color factor value is substantially that of at least one of the color factor Hunter by of the color factor Hunter a, and the ratio between the range of the color value of the color factor of the measure of clarity and the values of the color factor associated substantially equivalent to one of the following: - - - Where negative values denote values less than zero.
46. The apparatus according to any of claims 42 or 43 characterized in that said means for measuring said at least one additional color factor value comprises means for measuring the value of said at least one additional color factor that is dependent on the relative blue content and yellow in said coloration.
47. The apparatus according to any of claims 42 or 43 characterized in that, said means for measuring a color factor value comprises measuring the value of said at least one additional color factor that is dependent on the relative content of red and green in said color.
48. The apparatus according to any of claims 42 or 43, further characterized in that the apparatus for evaluating a test subject is an apparatus for determining a color characteristic in a biological test subject.
49. The apparatus according to claim 48, further characterized in that the apparatus for determining a color characteristic is an apparatus for determining a color characteristic in a biological test subject that is a human, animal, plant or soil test subject.
50. The apparatus according to claim 48, further characterized in that the apparatus for determining a color characteristic in a biological test subject is an apparatus for determining a color characteristic in a test subject that is selected from the group consisting of tissue , excretions, body fluids, hair and teeth.
51. The apparatus according to any of claims 1, 6, 28, 30, 42 or 43, further characterized by: means for calibrating the means for measuring with a colored sample with spectral and color characteristics and specific for the value of the factor of color to be measured, including means for measuring the color of the sample to produce measurement indications and means for adjusting the measurement indications of said means so that the measurement corresponds to the preselected values when measuring the sample coloration. • -.
52. The apparatus according to claim 51 characterized in that, the colored sample has spectral reflectance factors equivalent to the following: Wavelengths Spectral Reflectance Factor nm 400 1 6. , 67 420 16. . 93 440 17. . 65 460 20. 56 480 25.67 500 27.94 520 28.24 540 27.59 560 27.33 580 30.12 600 40.52 620 47.93 640 51.10 660 53.82 680 56.55 700 58.87
53. The apparatus according to claim 51 characterized in that, the colored sample has substantially the following C.I.E. and Hunter color coordinates: X = 33.76 Y = 31.53 Z = 24.20 x - 0.3732 y - 0.3523 L = 56.15 a = 9.05 b = 13.75 measurements with the specular component excluded and calculated by illuminator C of the C.I.E. and the observer of the standard C.I.E. 1931 2o
54. The apparatus according to any of claims 42 or 43 characterized in that said means for measuring the value of said at least one additional color factor comprises means for measuring the value of a color factor that is dependent on the relative content of blue and yellow in said coloration.
55. The apparatus according to any of claims 42 or 43 characterized in that said means for measuring the value of said at least one additional color factor comprises means for measuring the value of a color factor that is dependent on the relative content of green and red in said coloration.
56 The apparatus according to any of claims 42 or 43 characterized in that said means for measuring the value of said at least one additional color factor comprises means for measuring the value of a color factor that is dependent on the yellowness of the coloring of the subject test.
57. The apparatus according to any of claims 42 or 43 characterized in that said means for measuring the value of said at least one additional color factor comprises means for measuring the value of a color factor that is dependent on the redness of the coloration of the test subject.
58. The apparatus according to any of claim 42 or 43 characterized in that said means for measuring the value of at least one additional color factor comprises means for measuring a first function valued in a first portion of the spectrum and a second function valued in a second portion of the spectrum, the color factor being dependent on the clarity of the color of the test subject.
59. The apparatus according to any of claims 42 or 43, characterized in that said means for measuring the value of said at least one additional color factor comprises means for measuring a value of a color factor, which is substantially that of the factor of Hunter odor, and the apparatus further comprising means for measuring a value of an additional color factor, which is substantially that of the color factor Hunter a, means for comparing the measured value of said additional color factor with a lag of values of said additional factor, and means to continue detection of the condition only if the measured value of said additional color factor remains within an acceptable range.
60. The apparatus according to any of claims 42 or 43 characterized in that the means for measuring the value of said at least one additional color factor comprises means for measuring a value of the color factor, which is substantially that of the color factor. Hunter a.
61. The apparatus according to any of claims 42 or 43 characterized in that said means for measuring the value of said at least one additional color factor comprises means for measuring a value of the color factor, which is substantially that of the color factor Hunter b.
62. The apparatus according to any of claims 42 or 43 characterized in that said means for measuring the value of said at least one additional color factor comprises means for measuring a value of the color factor having a first function valued in a further portion. yellow spectrum and a second function valued in a more blue portion of the spectrum.
63. The apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 6, 9, 10, 42 or 43 characterized in that said means for measuring the value of a color factor comprises means for measuring the value of said color factor at different locations in the test subject.
64. The apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 6, 9, 10, 42 or 43 further characterized in that said apparatus is an apparatus for detecting or evaluating a condition causing jaundice in a child or adult human test subject.
65. The apparatus according to any of claims 43 or 45 characterized in that said means for measuring the value of said at least one additional color factor comprises means for measuring the value of a color factor comprising a first function valued in a first portion of the spectrum, a second function valued in a second portion of the spectrum, and a valuation term that is a function of clarity of said coloration and that modifies the value of said color factor.
66. A process for detecting a condition in a test subject, whose condition includes a detectable, symptomatic change in the coloration of the test subject, with the class process including measurement of the value of at least one color factor in the coloration of the subject, the process being characterized by the steps of: (a) at a first point in time, measuring with a color measuring instrument a value of at least one color factor in the coloration of the test subject, being dependent said color factor, at least in part, of the relative content of one or more colors in said coloration; (b) wait for an interval; (c) measuring with said color measuring instrument, at least at an additional time point, a value of said at least one color factor in the coloration of the test subject; (d) comparing the values of said at least one color factor measured at said first and additional points in time to arrive at a change value at said at least one color factor; and (e) comparing the values of change in said at least one color factor with a pre-established measure of said at least one change in the value of the color factor evidencing said condition.
67. The process according to claim 66, characterized in that the test subject is an infant and the condition is hyperbilirubinemia; further characterized by step (a) which comprises establishing a baseline measurement for said infant by measuring with said color measuring instrument a value of said at least one color factor in the coloring of the infant at a first point in time after of birth, when the jaundice resulting from hyperbilirubinemia is not generally present in the infant, and step (e) comprising comparing the value of said baseline measurement of the color factor at said first point in time with the value measured at said additional point in time to determine whether a change in it of a predetermined magnitude has been exhibited for that particular infant. - -
68. The process according to any of claims 66 or 67 further characterized by, step (e) comprising comparing the change value in said at least one color factor with a preset measure of a change in the value of the color factor that evidence that condition and that is correlated to a measure of this condition that has clinical utility.
69. The process according to any of claims 66 or 67 further characterized by, before steps (d) and (e) that establish a plurality of coloration classes, in which a predetermined amount of a change in the value of said at least one color factor is indicative of said condition, said predetermined amount being indicative of the condition that differs from one hue of coloring to another; and wherein steps (d) and (e) together comprise comparing the values of said at least one color factor measured at said first and additional points in time to determine whether a change in the same of the magnitude has been exhibited predetermined that that condition evidences for the particular coloring class of said test subject.
70. A process for detecting a condition in a test subject, whose condition includes a symptomatic coloration, with the apparatus of the class including means for measuring the value of at least one color factor in the subject's coloration, the process being characterized by the steps of: (a) measuring with a color measuring instrument a value of at least one color factor in said coloration of the test subject, said color factor being dependent on said coloration; and (b) comparing the measured value of said at least one color factor with a predetermined range of values of said at least one color factor to determine whether said measured value of said at least one color factor evidences said condition in said subject test.
71. The process according to claim 70 further characterized by, step (a) comprising measuring with a color measuring instrument a value in said test subject coloration of at least one color factor, said at least one factor being color dependent on said coloration and being correlated in test subjects having colorations of degrees of clarity or darkness that vary substantially, for a measure of said condition having a clinical utility.
72. The process according to claim 70 further characterized in that, measuring with a color measuring instrument the value of said at least one color factor comprises measuring a value of the color factor, which is substantially that of the Hunter color factor. b in said coloration of said test subject; and comparing the measurement of said at least one color factor comprises comparing the value of said at least one color factor with a range of acceptable values of said at least one color factor which are indicative of the presence or absence of said condition in a subject to determine whether the measured value of said at least one color factor remains outside or within said range.
73. The process according to any of claims 66 to 69, 74 or 75 further characterized in that, measuring with a color measuring instrument the value of said at least one color factor comprises measuring a color factor value, which is substantially that of the Hunter color factor b in said coloration of said test subject; and comparing the value of change in said at least one (color factor comprising comparing that value with a range of values of said change of color factor which are indicative of the presence or absence of said condition in a subject to determine whether the The measured value of said color factor change remains within or outside said range
74. The process according to any of claims 66 to 70, characterized in that, measuring the value of said at least one color factor comprises measuring the value of a color factor that is dependent on the relative content of the opposite colors in said coloration and on the clarity of said coloration
75. The process according to any of claims 66 to 70 or 74, characterized in that, measuring the value of said at least one color factor comprises measuring the value of a color factor comprising a first function valued in a first portion of the spectrum, a second function valued in a second portion of the spectrum, and a term of valuation which is a function of the clarity of said coloration and which modifies the value of said color factor.
76. The process according to any of claims 66, 68, or 70 characterized in that, measuring the value of said at least one color factor comprises measuring the value of a color factor that is dependent on the relative content of the opposite colors in said coloration.
77. The process according to any of claims 66 to 69, 74 or 75, further characterized by, the step of establishing a plurality of classes of colorations, in each of which a predetermined amount of change in the value of said at least a color factor is indicative of that condition.
78. The process according to any of claims 66 to 68, 70, 74 or 75, characterized in that, measuring the value of said at least one color factor comprises measuring the value of a color factor that is dependent on the relative content of blue and yellow in said coloration.
79. The process according to any of claims 66, 67, 70, 74 or 75 characterized in that, measuring the value of said at least one color factor comprises measuring the value of a color factor that is dependent on the relative content of green and red in said coloration.
80. The process according to any of claims 66, 67, 70, 74 or 75 characterized in that, measuring the value of said at least one color factor comprises measuring the value of a color factor that is dependent on the yellowness of the coloration of the test subject.
81. The process according to any of claims 66 to 70, 74 or 75, characterized in that measuring the value of said at least one color factor comprises measuring the value of a color factor that is substantially that of the color factor Hunter b .
82. The process according to any of claims 66 to 71, 74 or 75, characterized in that, measuring the value of said at least one color factor comprises measuring the value of a color factor that is dependent on the redness of the color of the color. test subject.
83. The process according to any of claims 66, 68 to 71, 74, or 75, characterized in that, measuring the value of said at least one color factor comprises measuring the value of a color factor comprising a first function valued in a first portion of the spectrum and a second function evaluated in a second portion of the spectrum, the color factor being further dependent on the clarity of the coloration of the test subject.
84. The process according to any of claims 66 or 70, characterized in that step (a) comprises measuring a value of a first color factor, which is substantially that of the color factor Hunter b,., And the process comprises furthermore, measuring a value of a second color factor, which is substantially that of the color factor Hunter a, which compares the measured value of said second color factor with a lag of values of said second color factor, and continuing the process only if the measured value of the second color factor remains within an acceptable range.
85. The process according to any of claims 66 to 71, 74 or 75 characterized in that, measuring the value of said at least one color factor comprises measuring a value of the color factor, which is substantially that of the Hunter color factor. .
86. The process according to any of claims 66 to 71, 74 or 75 characterized in that, measuring the value of said at least one color factor comprises measuring a value of the color factor having a first function valued in a more yellow portion of the color. spectrum and a second function valued in a more blue portion of the spectrum.
87. The process according to claim 66 characterized in that, the condition is a medical condition that includes a detectable symptomatic change in the coloration of a test subject; further characterized by step (a) comprising setting up a baseline measurement for said test subject by measuring with a color measuring instrument a value of said at least one color factor in the coloration of the test subject when the change symptomatic detectable in the coloration resulting from the medical condition is not generally present in a test subject, and step (e) which comprises comparing the value of said at least one baseline measurement of color factor and said value of said at least one color factor at said additional point in time to determine whether a change in the same of a predetermined amount has been exhibited for this particular test subject.
88. The process according to claim 70 further characterized by, establishing a range of values of color factors characteristic of the subjects without said condition and compare with said range of values the value of said at least one color factor determined in said stage of measurement.
89. The process according to any of claims 66, 67, 74 or 75 further characterized by the steps of: measuring a clarity factor at said first and additional points in time; and compensating for any change in the value of said at least one color factor for significant clarity variations.
90. The process according to claim 66 further characterized by, step (e) comprising comparing the value of change in said at least one color factor with stored color changes comprising a plurality of coloration classes that are colorations within the ranges of clarity variation.
91. The process according to claim 70 further characterized by, step (b) comprising comparing the measured value of said at least one color factor with a range of values of said at least one characteristic color factor of the subjects without said condition.
92. A process for detecting a condition of a test subject, whose condition includes a symptomatic detectable coloration, the process being of the kind that includes measuring the value of a color factor in the subject's coloration; the improvement being characterized by the steps of (a) compiling a group of value ranges of the color factor of clarity measurement; associating with each value range of the color factor of clarity measurement in at least one value of an additional color factor to be used in comparison with at least one measurement with a color measuring instrument of that additional color factor value in the coloration of a test subject having a value of the color factor of measure of clarity within said range.
93. The process according to claim 92, characterized in that the process is for the detection of hyperbilirubinemia in a test subject based on the skin coloring of said test subject; the process further characterized by the steps of: (c) measuring with a color measuring instrument a value of each of the measures of clarity and additional color factors in the skin coloring of the test subject, the value being of the color factor of measure of clarity substantially that of the color factor Hunter L and the value of the color factor being substantially greater than that of the color factor Hunter b; and (d) compares the measured value of said additional color factor with an acceptable range of values of said additional color factor which are found in subjects having skin coloration corresponding to the particular measured value of said color factor of clarity in said test subject to determine if the measured value of said additional color factor remains outside or within the range, wherein said range of acceptable values is selected from the ranges substantially as follows: where the designation -5 means less than 5 but greater than and the designation +12 means greater than 12 but less than a.
94. In a process to determine a color characteristic; the improvement being characterized by the steps of: (a) compiling a group of value ranges of the color factor of clarity measurement; and (b) associating with each value range of the color factor of clarity measurement to at least one value of an additional color factor to be used in the comparison with at least one measurement of that additional color factor value in the coloration. of a test subject having a value of the color factor of lightness measurement within said range.
95. The process according to any of claims 92 or 94, further characterized in that said ranges compiled in step (a) are selected from ranges substantially equivalent to the following: Hunter L = < 27.27 a < 30.30 a < 33.33 a < 36, 36 a < 39.39 a < 42.42 a < 45.45 a < 48.48 a < 51.51 a < 54.54 a < 57,57 to < 60, 60 a < 63, 63 a < 66.66 a < 69, and > 69.
The process according to any of claims 92 or 94, further characterized in that: said values of the color factor of clarity measurement in step (a) are substantially those of the color factor Hunter L; and the value of said additional color factor in step (b) is substantially that of the color factor Hunter a, and the ratio between the ranges of the value of the color factor of clarity measurement and associated in addition to the values of the factor of color that are substantially equivalent to the following: Hunter L Hunter at 24 (or less) at 44 4 to 16 45 to 54 4 to 18 55 to 59 5 to 25 60 to 71 (or more) 6 to 30
97. The process according to any of claims 92 or 94, further characterized in that: said color factor of clarity measurement in step (a) has a value that is substantially that of the color factor Hunter L; and said at least one additional color factor in step (b) having a value that is substantially that of the Hunter color factor b, and the relationship between said ranges of the color factor value of clarity measurement and said values being of additional color factor associated substantially equivalent to the following: where the designation -5 means less than 5 but greater than and the designation +12 means greater than 12 but less than a. - -
98. The process according to any of claims 92 or 94, further characterized in that said value of the additional color factor is substantially that of the color factor Hunter by being the ranges of the value of the color factor of measurement of clarity ranges of values of a factor color, which is substantially that of the color factor Hunter L, the process further comprises the step of measuring per instrument a value of a color factor, substantially that of the color factor Hunter L, in said coloration of the test subject.
99. The process according to claim 98 characterized in that said coloration is a coloration of the skin and said process is further characterized by the step of establishing a plurality of classes of colorations including a first class of skin coloration having a value of a color factor, which is substantially that of a color factor Hunter L at or substantially less than 51 and a second class of skin color having a value of a color factor that is substantially that of a color factor Hunter L substantially above 51.
100. The process according to claim 99, further characterized in that said coloring classes are defined by the ratio between the values of said color factor, which is substantially that of the color factor Hunter L and the values of said color factor, which is substantially that of the Hunter color factor b, said relationship being substantially equivalent to the following Please: where the designation -5 means less than 5 but greater than and the designation +12 means greater than 12 but less than \ 13.
101. The process according to any of claims 66, 70 or 92, further characterized in that the process comprises detecting a condition in a biological test subject.
102. The process according to claim 101, further characterized by, detecting a condition in a biological test subject that is a human, animal, plant or soil test subject.
103. The process according to claim 101, further characterized by, detecting a condition in a biological test subject that is selected from the group consisting of tissue, excretions, body fluids, hair and teeth.
104. The process according to claim 66 further characterized by step (a) comprising measuring as a baseline measurement, a value of said at least one color factor in said coloration of the test subject at a first point in the time when a detectable, symptomatic change in coloration resulting from the medical condition is not usually found in a test subject.
105. The process according to any of claims 92 or 94, further characterized by said coloring classes which are determined by ranges of values of a color factor, which are substantially those of the color factor Hunter L; said ranges of said color factor values being linked by at least one of the values substantially equivalent to the following: Hunter L = 27,30,33,36,39,42,45,48,51,54,57, 60 , 63, 66 and 69.
106. A process for evaluating a test subject based on the coloration of said test subject, the process being characterized by the steps of: (a) measuring with a color measuring instrument a value of a first color factor in said coloration of the test subject, said first color factor being dependent on the clarity of the coloration of said test subject; and (b) measuring with said color measuring instrument a value of at least one additional color factor in said coloration of the test subject; said additional color factor being dependent on the relative content of the opposite colors in the coloration of said test subject; wherein at least one of steps (a) and (b) comprises arriving at a value of said color factor that correlates to a measurement of coloration having established a laboratory utility.
107. The process according to claim 106, characterized in that it further comprises the step of comparing the measured values of said first color factor and said at least one additional color factor with a range of values of said color factors that are found in the colorations of the subjects other than said test subjects, to determine where they remain within said range of measured values of said color factors.
108. The process according to any of claims 66 to 73, 74, 75, 106 or 107, characterized in that, measuring the value of a color factor comprises making a set of multiple measures of the value of the color factor and averaging each set of color factors. multiple measures.
109. The process according to claim 92 further characterized in that said at least one additional color factor value is substantially that of at least one of the color factor Hunter by the color factor Hunter a, and the ratio between the value range of the color factor of clarity measurement and the associated color factor values are substantially equivalent to one of the following: NAME OF CATEGORY Mm Max Min Max Kin Black / Coffee Obs. / Coffee 27.00 50.00 -10.00 1.80 -10.00 Med. / Coffee w / 70% -90% Black Gray / Coffee Obs. / Coffee 27.00 50.00 -10.00 1.80 3.75 4.00 Med. / Coffee w / 704-90% Black Gray / Coffee Obs. / Coffee 27.00 50.00 -10.00 1.80 4.00 4.25 Med. / Coffee w / 70 * -90% Black Gray / Coffee Obs. / Coffee 27.00 50.00 -10.00 1.80 4.25 10.00 Med. / Coffee w / 70% -90 Black Gray / Coffee Obs. / Coffee 23.00 27.00 -10.00 1.00 -10.00 3.75 Med. / Coffee w / 40% -60% Black Gray / Coffee Obs. / Coffee 23.00 27.00 -10.00 1.00 3.75 4.00 Med. / Coffee w / 40% -60% Black Gray / Coffee Obs. / Coffee 23.00 27.00 -10.00 1.00 4.00 4.25 Med. / Coffee / 40% -60% Black Gray / Coffee Obs. / Coffee 23.00 27.00 -10.00 1.00 4.25 10.00 Med. / Coffee w / 40% -60% Gray Gray Hair Program Light Brown / Darker Blond 40% -60% Gray 4.00 10.00 -10.00 -0.08 70% -90% Gray 10.00 999.00 -10.00 -0.08 Red Dark, Medium R030 or Medium Light 40% -60% Gray 6.00 10.00 -10.00 -0.80 70% -90% Gray 10.00 999.00 -10.00 -0.80 Roo Light or Blonde Ro? Izo 40% -60% Gray 5.00 7.00 -10.00 -0.80 70% -90% Gray 7.00 999.00 -10.00 -0.80 Medium Blonde to Dark Blonde Medium 40% -60% Gray 1.70 4.00 0.00 0.00 70% -90% Gray 4.00 999.00 0.00 0.00 Light Blonde Hair 40 % -60% Gray -99.99 -0.25 -1.75 -1.25 70% -90% Gray -99.99 -0.25 -99.99 -1.75 Where negative values denote values less than zero.
110. The process according to any of claims 106 or 107 characterized in that, the measurement step comprises measuring the value of said at least one additional color factor which is dependent on the relative content of blue and yellow in said coloration.
111. The process according to any of claims 106 or 107 characterized in that, the measurement step comprises measuring the value of said at least one additional color factor that is dependent on the relative content of red and green in said coloration.
112. The process according to any of claims 106 or 107, further characterized in that the process of evaluating a test subject is a process for determining a color characteristic in a biological test subject.
113. The process according to claim 112, further characterized in that the process for determining a color characteristic is a process for determining a color characteristic in a biological test subject that is a human, animal, plant or soil test subject.
114. The process according to claim 113, further characterized by, determining a color characteristic in a biological test subject that is selected from the group consisting of tissue, excretions, body fluids, hair and teeth.
115. The process according to any of claims 66, 70, 92, 94, 106 or 107, further characterized by the steps of: calibrating the color measuring instrument to provide a colored sample with spectral and color characteristics specific to the factor of color to be measured, and measure the coloration of the sample to produce the measurement indications and adjust the measurement indications of said instrument to correspond to the preselected values when measuring the sample coloration.
116. The process according to claim 115, characterized in that, the colored sample has spectral reflectance factors equivalent to the following: Wavelengths Spectral Reflectance Factor nm 400 16.67 420 16.93 440 17, .65 460 20 .56 480 25. .67 500 27. .94 520 28. .24 540 27. .59 560 27. .33 580 30.12 600 40.52 620 47.93 640 51.10 660 53.82 680 56.55 700 58.87
117. The process according to claim 115 characterized in that, the colored sample has substantially the following C.I.E. and Hunter color coordinates: X = 33.76 Y = 31.53 Z = 24.20 x = 0.3732 and - 0.3523 L = 56.15 a = 9.05 b = 13.75 measurements with the specular component excluded and calculated by illuminator C of the C.I.E. and the observer of the standard C.I.E. 1931 2o
118. The process according to any of claims 106 or 107 characterized in that, measuring the value of at least one additional color factor comprises measuring the value of a color factor that is dependent on the yellowness of the coloration of the test subject.
119. The process according to any of claims 106 or 107, characterized in that, measuring the value of at least one additional color factor comprises measuring the value of a color factor that is dependent on the redness of the coloration of the test subject.
120. The process according to any of claim 106 or 107 characterized in that, measuring the value of at least one additional color factor comprises a first function evaluated in a first portion of the spectrum and a second function evaluated in a second function of the spectrum, the color factor being dependent in addition to the clarity of the subject's coloration test.
121. The process according to any of claims 106 or 107, characterized in that, the step of measuring at least one additional color factor comprises measuring a value of a color factor, which is substantially that of the Hunter color factor b, and the a process that further comprises measuring a value of an additional color factor, which is substantially that of the color factor Hunter a, by comparing the measured value of said additional color factor with a range of values of said additional factor, and continuing the process only if the measured value of said additional color factor remains within an acceptable range.
122. The process according to any of claims 106 or 107 characterized in that, measuring the value of said at least one additional color factor comprises measuring a color factor value, which is substantially that of the color factor Hunter a.
123. The process according to any of claims 106 or 107, characterized in that, measuring the value of at least one additional color factor comprises measuring a value of the color factor, which is substantially that of the Hunter color factor b.
124. The process according to any of claims 106 or 107, characterized in that, measuring the value of said at least one color factor comprises measuring a value of the color factor having a first function valued in a more yellow portion of the spectrum and a second one. function valued in a more blue portion of the spectrum.
125. The process according to any of claims 66 to 70, 74, 75, 106 or 107 characterized in that, measuring the value of a color factor comprises measuring the value of said color factor in different locations in the test subject.
126. The process according to any of claims 66 to 75, 106 or 107 further characterized in that said process comprises a process for detecting or evaluating a condition causing jaundice in a human child or adult test subject.
127. The process according to any of claims 106 or 107, characterized in that, measuring the value of said at least one additional color factor comprises measuring the value of a color factor comprising a first function valued in a first portion of the spectrum, a second function valued in a second portion of the spectrum, and a valuation term that is a function of clarity of said coloration and that modifies the value of said color factor. .17 SUMMARY A method and apparatus for determining the condition of a test subject based on color using a color measuring instrument, to detect the change in a color factor indicative of a condition such as disease, damage, aging, etc. A medical condition such as hyperbilirubinemia, which affects the color of the skin, can be detected. One values the color factors such as Hunter b and L in the skin color of the subjects. For predetermined ranges of a color factor, in particular L, changes in the other color factor, for example Hunter b, above the predetermined levels, are indicative of the medical condition. In many cases, a single measurement of the color factors can be used as a warning of the probality of the medical condition or contaminated, if the ordinary range of color factors is known for healthy individuals, with skin coloration similar to that of the test subject. Even if there is no measurement of the baseline and the color of the test subject is such that a single reading of one of the color factors will not warn of the possible presence of the medical or contaminated condition, the sequential readings may indicate the presence or absence of the condition based on changes in the measured color factor, or lack of changes. Color measurement techniques are applied to a wide range of biological test subjects (eg hair, teeth, tissue, excretions, food, soil, animals, plants).