An automated dermatological scanning system powered by Sony’s α9 III
Dermatology is experiencing a dramatic increase in demand, straining dermatological services and highlighting a shortage of skilled clinical practitioners. Dermavision has developed an automated, high-resolution scanning process using Sony cameras and software. It takes a quarter of the time to scan – ten minutes instead of forty minutes – and yields better diagnostic images.
A changing world and a changing demographic
Dermatological pathologies are increasing because of four main factors:
- An ageing population is more prone to skin problems as it gets olderAn ageing population is more prone to skin problems as it gets older
- Climate change means that populations experience greater exposure to raw sunlight
- There is growing evidence of a link between air pollution and skin cancer
- Media coverage has increased awareness of skin cancer
Automated whole-body skin scanning
Dermavision’s challenge was to improve the quality and efficiency of scanning while making it a better experience for patients. Previous methods required extremely close observation – mere centimetres from the skin. This was time-consuming and intrusive, making patients feel uncomfortable. Dermavision’s scanner operates at much larger distances, typically 40cm, giving a wider field of view and taking in much more of the patient’s body surface in each shot.
Two-stage scanning
The Dermavision system saves time while increasing accuracy. One way it does this is with two-stage scanning. An initial scan creates a whole-body image. Analysis carried out at the same time as this scan identifies areas which need closer attention. These are then scanned in close-up, but without having to move closer to the patient.
A process designed for efficiency
For patients, the process is simple and unintimidating. First, they enter the scanning booth and close the door. In privacy, they undress and stand on a guide mark. The system images the front, rear and sides in a total of four scans. During the scanning process, everything is autonomous. The system uploads images securely to the cloud for viewing by authorised remote-working dermatologists.
Patient comfort and security
Dermavision’s scanning process increases patient comfort by speeding up the examination by a factor of four. It reduces the need for close-quarters in-person examination, instead taking photographs from a comfortable distance. The end-to-end process is extremely secure when handling patients’ confidential images. Only authorised clinicians can view the data, and it is fully encrypted to meet international medical security standards.
Precision digital imaging with Sony α9 III
To create an accurate, clinically useful whole-body scan, Dermavision has chosen Sony’s mirrorless α9 III camera, with the world’s first full-frame stacked 24.6 MP CMOS image sensor with a global shutter system. It captures 14-bit RAW images in all modes and has powerful on-board processing with its BIONZ XR processor. The global shutter captures an entire image at exactly the same time, allowing the camera to “freeze” images at an instant. The Dermavision scanner has a robotic support that moves as it photographs an entire body. Even if the patient moves, the camera’s high successive frame rate allows it to capture a large number of images while guaranteeing sharp, accurate results.
End-to-end automation with Sony and Dermavision’s software
Dermavision has employed Sony’s Camera Remote SDK to build a fully-integrated, automated pipeline for their scanning service. The Camera Remote SDK allows developers to create bespoke applications to automate camera operation and to download images for storage and distribution.
We have had to overcome the difficulty of taking tiny images from a long distance. We don’t want to be too close to the patient because that would feel uncomfortable. The images are only 2cm across. So we need an extremely good camera. This is where the Sony α9M3 comes into play. We need image stabilisation, very shallow depth of field and a global shutter. We have a tiny amount of time to capture the images when the robot is moving.
Narcis Richart
Dermavision’s Founder and CEO
Cost and time savings - and better outcomes for more patients
Conventional dermatological photography is a manual process, taking valuable time from health professionals. The Dermavision automated whole body scanner with the Sony α9 III camera speeds up scanning by 400% and allows more patients to receive the diagnosis and care they urgently need. Compared to traditional methods, it improves outcomes for patients while increasing efficiency and reducing costs for practitioners.