GB2357338A

GB2357338A - Method and means for recording information relating to blemishes of the skin eg. moles

Info

Publication number: GB2357338A
Application number: GB9929440A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Edward Pennington-Ridge
Original assignee: PENNINGTON RIDGE EDWARD
Current assignee: PENNINGTON RIDGE EDWARD
Priority date: 1999-12-13
Filing date: 1999-12-13
Publication date: 2001-06-20
Also published as: GB9929440D0

Abstract

The means comprise a transparent or translucent flexible sheet 2 at least a part 16 of the surface 4 of which is adapted for a tracing of the outline of the blemish to be made on it, and related means, such as a card 8, adapted for the recordal thereon of information relating to the blemish. The method comprises placing the sheet against the skin and over the blemish, recording the outline of the blemish on the sheet by tracing its outline on to the sheet, and associating with the tracing a record of information relating to the blemish.

Description

2357338 METHOD AND MEANS FOR RECORDING INFORMATION RELATING TO BLEMISHES

OF THE SKIN This invention relates to a novel and much improved method of and means for recording the history of moles and other blemishes of the skin.

Currently, the usual practice is for the medical practitioner to attempt to record the size and shape of the blemish, e.g. mole, by making a rough sketch of it.

This is less than satisfactory because it relies on the practitioner's ability to reproduce on paper what he sees and not all medical practitioners are skilled in this respect.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of recording the outline and details of a blemish of the skin, the method comprising:

placing a transparent or translucent and flexible sheet against the skin and over the blemish; recording the outline of the blemish on said sheet by tracing its outline on to the sheet, and associating the tracing with a record of information relating to the blemish.

The invention also provides means for recording the outline and details of a blemish of the skin, said means comprising:

a transparent or translucent and flexible sheet 2 at least a part of a surface of which is adapted for a tracing of the outline of the blemish to be made on it, and related means adapted for the recordal of information relating to the blemish.

By means of the invention, an accurate record of the size and shape of the blemish is obtained reliably and any subsequent change can be detected by comparing the tracing with the actual blemish at a later date or with a further tracing thereof made at a later date.

Recordable information relating to the blemish may be, for example, the name of the patient, the date on which the tracing is made, the location of the blemish on 2 the body of the patient, the texture of the blemish and its colour. Other relevant information may occur to the practitioner, e.g. further comments on the nature of the blemish, such as its texture.

In one preferred embodiment, a colour chart is provided comprising a range of different possible colours for a blemish and the colour of the blemish is recorded by reference to the closest matching colour on the chart. Suitably, each colour on the chart is accorded a unique identity for ease of recordal.

In one embodiment of the invention, the transparent or translucent sheet may be provided with an area within which information relating to the blemish may be recorded. In another embodiment, the means for receiving a record of information relating to the blemish may comprise a second sheet which is associated with and preferably attached to the transparent or translucent sheet. This second sheet may be a computer print-out which is attached to the transparent or translucent sheet, after the tracing of the outline of the blemish has been made. Alternatively, it may be a sheet, such as a card, on which the relevant information is entered by typewriter or hand.

In one embodiment, the transparent or translucent sheet is attached to the second sheet, e.g. card, along one edge whereby the combination of transparent or translucent sheet and associated second sheet may be in the form of a folder.

The transparent or translucent sheet may have a plurality of zones defined on it, each for receiving the tracing of a blemish. Where this sheet is associated with a second sheet as described above, the face of the second sheet may have marked on it corresponding zones within which data relating to the blemish may be recorded, whereby when the first-mentioned sheet is laid on top of the second sheet, the zones of the two sheets are superimposed.

Preferably, at least an area of the second sheet is free of said zones whereby information may be recorded on said area and be visible through the transparent or 3 translucent sheet when the latter overlies the second sheet.

Suitably, the means according to the invention, e.g. comprising transparent or translucent sheet or sheets and underlying second sheet, e.g. card, is of a size to fit in the standard envelope used for storage of patients' notes by medical practitioners.

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to one preferred embodiment thereof and with the aid of the accompanying drawings in which Figure I is a schematic side elevation of one embodiment of a folder according to the invention and intended for recording information relating to moles (naevuses).

Figure 2 shows the top sheet of the folder of Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows the bottom sheet of the folder of Figure 1.

Figure 4 shows the folder of Figure 1 with the top sheet overlying the bottom sheet Figure 5 shows, on a reduced scale, and omitting the legends on the card, the folder of Figure 1 opened.

Referring to figure 1, the folder comprises a transparent or translucent preferably flexible sheet 2 having a top face 4 and underface 6 and a card 8 having a top face 10 and underface 12. The sheet is attached to the card along the edge 14, e.g. by means of an adhesive, so that the sheet 2 may, in its rest position, overlie the card 8 but may be opened to a second position as shown in Figure 5 for the purpose described below.

As seen in Figure 2, in the embodiment shown, the sheet 2 has marked on it a plurality (three are shown) of rectangular zones 16. The purpose of each is to provide a specific area within which the shape of a mole may be traced. To this end, a face of the sheet should be capable of having a pennanent record formed on it by tracing using a writing implement. As shown in Figure 3, the card also has three zones 18 marked on it, the zones being in matching positions to the corresponding zones marked on the sheet 2. The card also has two zone-free areas. The first, in 1 4 the top left hand corner, carries a colour chart 20 comprising a range of possible colours for moles, the colours being arranged in a matrix and each having a unique identity by virtue of the lines being identified by letters and the columns by numbers.

The second free area 22 is for the purpose of recording information relating to a mole whose shape has been traced within a zone of the sheet 2. Thus, in the embodiment shown, there is provision for recording the name of the patient, the date on which the shape of the mole was traced, the identity of the mole by reference to the zone on the sheet within which the outline of the mole was traced, the texture of the mole and its colour by reference to a colour of the colour matrix on the card.

The dimensions of the folder are such that it will fit in a standard size envelope used for storing patients' notes, e.g. a Lloyd George jacket or the like.

In use, the folder is opened, e.g. to the position shown in Figure 5, and the top face 4 of the sheet 2 is placed against the skin of the patient so that the mole to be recorded lies within a zone 16 of the sheet. The outline of the mole is then traced on the underface 6 of the sheet, e.g. using a ballpoint pen or fibre tip pen, and relevant details of the mole are recorded on the top face 10 of the card. The location of the mole on the patient's body is recorded in the zone 18 on the card corresponding to the zone 16 in which the tracing of the mole has been formed. The sheet 2 is then folded back over the card 8, providing a neat folder for placing in the envelope containing patients' notes. In England, for example, this is usually a Lloyd George jacket.

The development of the mole over time: may be recorded by superimposing the outline of the mole on the original tracing. Alternatively a different zone on the sheet 2 may be used to record each later tracing of the mole.

The top sheet 2 may be of tracing paper but a transparent or translucent plastics material is preferred for its durability. The face of the sheet on which the tracing is made may be treated in well known manner to enable receipt of the ink line. The card 8 may be replaced by a sheet of other material, e.g. paper.

Examples of blemishes for which the invention may be used include those such as moles (naevuses) and areas of discoloration such as in psoriasis. Other applications will occur to the medical practitioner.

Various modifications of the embodiment described above will occur to the skilled person. For example:

the zones may be a shape other than rectangular; the top sheet may contain more or less than three zones 16 or the zones may be omitted entirely, leaving an undefined area on which to make the tracing or tracings; alternatively, but less satisfactorily, the practitioner may determine where to make the tracings so that they lie within the zones 18 on the card when the sheet overlies the card.

the folder may be adapted to carry the record of only one mole; e.g. by omitting the zones 16 and 18; the arrangement of the zones on the sheet 2 and/or the information on the card may be changed; the sheet 2 may be attached to the card 8 along a top or bottom edge or the other side edge, or the sheet may be loose and attached to the card by temporary means such as a paper clip; Instead of the card 8 being attached along one edge to the sheet 2, the face 10 of the card 8 on which the transparent or translucent sheet 2 lies may be coated with a semi-permanent, i.e. substantially permanently tacky, adhesive, e.g. such as used in the manufacture of "Post It" notes, whereby the transparent or translucent sheet 2 may be removed entirely from the card for the formation of the tracing thereon, thus facilitating the formation of the tracing.

A plurality of transparent or translucent sheets 2 may be provided. In one aspect of this embodiment, the sheets may be arranged in a stack whereby the sheets may be adapted to receive tracings of a particular blemish at successive points in time. Arranging for the tracings to be superimposable will facilitate detection of any change in the outline of the blemish in the intervening period. Each sheet may have 6 a plurality of zones defined on it whereby tracings of more than one blemish may be recorded.

In another aspect of this embodiment, a plurality of tracings of the same blemish are taken at the same time, one on each of the plurality of transparent or translucent sheets, whereby more than one record of the outline of the blemish may be made at a particular point in time. For example, one tracing may be retained by the medical practitioner for his records and a second handed to the patient so that he can make his own check on progress of the blemish and inform his medical practitioner should a change in size become apparent.

The colour chart could comprise a continuously graded or substantially continuously graded range of appropriate colours, e.g. from pale fawn through red to black, and means such as a superimposed grid system for selecting a hue from the range. As there will be substantially no clearly defined colour interfaces in this embodiment, this alternative will offer the medical practitioner a much greater choice of hues and thus an improved means of detecting subtle changes of hue.

7

Claims

CLAINIS

1 A method of recording the outline and details of a blemish of the skin, the method comprising:

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which said sheet has a plurality of zones defined on it, each for the formation within it of an outline of a blemish.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which information relating to the blemish is recorded on an area of the sheet.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which information relating to the blemish is recorded on a second sheet.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4 in which the second sheet and the transparent or translucent sheet are attached together.

6. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, which includes providing a colour chart comprising a range of different blemish colours and recording the colour of the blemish by reference to the closest matching colour on the chart.

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7. A method as claimed in claim 6 in which the colour chart is provided on the transparent or translucent sheet or on said second sheet.

8. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 in which the traced outline is compared with the actual outline of the blemish at a later date.

9. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which a second 8 tracing of the blemish is taken at a later date and said second tracing is superimposed on the first.

10. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims for recording the outline and details of a mole (naevus).

11. A method as claimed in claim 1 substantially as herein described.

12. Means for recording the outline and details of a blemish of the skin, said means comprising:

13. Means as claimed in claim 12 in which said related means comprise an area on a face of the transparent or translucent sheet.

14. Means as claimed in claim 12 in which said related means comprise a second sheet 8 associated with said transparent or translucent sheet.

15. Means as claimed in claim 14 in which said second sheet and said transparent sheet are attached.

16. Means as claimed in claim 15 in which the sheets are attached along one edge to form a folder, at least a part of that face of the transparent or translucent sheet which is adjacent to the second sheet being adapted to be traced on.

17. Means as claimed in claim 14 in which a face of said second sheet is coated with semi-permanent adhesive and the transparent or translucent sheet lies on said face to be peelably affixed thereto.

18. Means as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 17 in which the transparent or 9 translucent sheet has a plurality of zones 16 defined on it, each for receiving within it the tracing of a blemish, and said second sheet carries on a face thereof an equal number of corresponding zones 18 whereby when the transparent or translucent sheet overlies said second sheet, the zones of the transparent or translucent sheet overlie the zones on second sheet.

19. Means as claimed in claim 18 in which at least one area of the second sheet is free of said zones whereby information recorded on said area is visible through the transparent or translucent sheet when said sheet overlies said second sheet.

20. Means as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 19 further including a colour chart comprising a range of different possible blemish colours and means for identifying which colour most closely matches that of the blemish.

21. Means as claimed in claim 20 including said second sheet and wherein said colour chart is carried by said second sheet.

22. Means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which includes a plurality of said transparent or translucent sheets.

23. Means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims for recording the outline and details of a mole (naevus).

24. Means as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 23 dimensioned to fit within a standard size envelope for the storage of patients' notes, e.g. a Lloyd George jacket.

25. Means as claimed in claim 12 substantially as described.

26. Means as claimed in claim 12 substantially as shown in the accompanying drawings.