I-Corps: MySkinTone: A breakthrough technology and product for skin melanin evaluation

I-Corps：MySkinTone：皮肤黑色素评估的突破性技术和产品

• 批准号: 1158744
• 负责人: Michael Silevitch
• 金额: $ 5万
• 依托单位: Northeastern University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2011
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2011-10-01 至 2012-03-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1158744&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Corps; MySkinTone; breakthrough; technology; product

MySkinTone is a new instrument and product concept, based on light modulation, for detecting and measuring the melanin or pigmentation level in human skin. This NSF I-Corps proposal will focus on the nucleation of an entrepreneurial team leading to a business plan to promote the MySkinTone idea, coupled with the creation of a demonstration prototype. The technology inherent in the new instrument is a direct extension of results obtained through prior NSF support. Melanin is an important component in the skin since it provides protection against harmful UV radiation and its density defines skin color. The initial product concept has applications where the measurement of melanin level is advantageous for the matching of skincare products to the client or where safely setting light treatment products or tanning beds is required. The team's plan is to initially target the cosmetic industry. MySkinTone will take the guesswork out of selecting the best cosmetics for every customer based on an inexpensive and accurate measurement taken on that customer's skin. Secondary markets such as tanning salons would also benefit from such a device, since they can do a better job adjusting the tanning session according to the customer's melanin level (which correlates to a person's ability to tan or sunburn). This effort will result in a better understanding of how to deploy intensity-modulated light to detect melanin. This scheme will provide measurements of high specificity and sensitivity since the signature is unique to melanin (multi-photon step-wise excitation) and completely eliminates the background interference, a shortcoming of existing melanin measurement products. Another Broader Impact will include the use of the MySkinTone innovation to address the need to screen the general population for skin cancer. Currently, there are over 3.5 million cases of skin cancer diagnosed annually in the United States, including 120,000 new cases of melanoma (the most serious form of skin cancer); the annual U.S. societal cost of skin cancer diagnosis and treatment is more than $1.5 billion.

MySkinTone 是一种基于光调制的新仪器和产品概念，用于检测和测量人体皮肤中的黑色素或色素沉着水平。 NSF I-Corps 的这项提案将重点关注创业团队的核心，制定商业计划来推广 MySkinTone 理念，并创建演示原型。新仪器固有的技术是之前 NSF 支持所获得结果的直接延伸。黑色素是皮肤的重要组成部分，因为它可以防止有害的紫外线辐射，其密度决定了肤色。最初的产品概念适用于黑色素水平的测量有利于为客户匹配护肤产品或需要安全设置光疗产品或日光浴床的情况。该团队的计划首先瞄准化妆品行业。 MySkinTone 将根据对顾客皮肤进行的廉价且准确的测量，为每位顾客选择最好的化妆品，从而消除猜测。晒黑沙龙等二级市场也将从这种设备中受益，因为它们可以根据顾客的黑色素水平（与人晒黑或晒伤的能力相关）更好地调整晒黑疗程。这项工作将使人们更好地了解如何部署强度调制光来检测黑色素。该方案将提供高特异性和灵敏度的测量，因为黑色素的特征是独特的（多光子逐步激发），并且完全消除了背景干扰，这是现有黑色素测量产品的缺点。 另一个更广泛的影响将包括使用 MySkinTone 创新来满足筛查普通人群皮肤癌的需求。目前，美国每年诊断出超过 350 万例皮肤癌病例，其中包括 12 万例新发黑色素瘤病例（最严重的皮肤癌）；美国每年用于皮肤癌诊断和治疗的社会成本超过 15 亿美元。