Method and apparatus for indicating the emergence of an ulcer
Inventors
Linders, David Robert • Bloom, Jonathan David • Engler, Jeffrey Mark • Petersen, Brian Jude • Geboff, Adam • Kale, David Charles
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11627883-B2
Publication Date
2023-04-18
Expiration Date
Abstract
A method of monitoring a patient's foot forms a thermogram of the sole of at least one foot of the patient, and determines whether the thermogram presents at least one of a plurality of prescribed patterns. The method also compares the thermogram against a prior thermogram of the same foot, and produces output information indicating the emergence of an ulcer on a given portion on the at least one foot as a function of 1) whether the thermogram is determined to present the at least one pattern, and 2) the comparison with the prior thermogram, which shows non-ulcerated tissue at the given location.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to monitoring foot health by predicting emergence of an ulcer or pre-ulcer on at least one of two feet of a patient. The method places the two feet on an open platform or a closed platform that includes a substrate receiving the two feet, and the platform includes an array of temperature sensors with a plurality of temperature sensors conformed by a flexible material substantially to an arch of one or both feet.
Using the temperature sensors conformed to the arch, the method generates a plurality of discrete temperature data values of the two feet after receipt of the feet. The discrete temperature data values are used to determine whether the data present at least one of a plurality of prescribed patterns, including evaluating, using the discrete temperature data values and an ulcer prediction model, whether a thermal asymmetry of the feet exceeds a pre-determined threshold.
The ulcer prediction model is a function of a level of physical activity of the patient. The method produces output information specifically predicting emergence of an ulcer or pre-ulcer on at least one of the two feet, and in implementations described in the document pattern recognition compares the current thermogram to prescribed thermal patterns and prior thermograms to indicate ulcer or pre-ulcer emergence on specific foot portions, including generating a risk score and optionally communicating the indication.
Claims Coverage
The document includes two independent methods for predicting ulcer emergence, one using an open platform and one using a closed platform. Both independent claims use the same core inventive flow: arch-conforming temperature sensing, discrete temperature data generation, physical-activity-dependent ulcer prediction modeling, thermal asymmetry threshold evaluation against prescribed patterns, and producing ulcer/pre-ulcer output information as a function of the evaluation.
Arch-conforming temperature sensor platform
Placing the two feet of the patient onto an open platform or providing a closed platform having a substrate for receiving the feet, the platform having an array of temperature sensors with a plurality of temperature sensors and comprising a flexible material configured to conform the array substantially to the arch of one or both feet.
Discrete temperature data generation after foot receipt
Generating, using the plurality of temperature sensors of the array substantially conformed to said arch, a plurality of discrete temperature data values of the two feet after receipt of the two feet of the patient.
Physical-activity-dependent ulcer prediction model with thermal asymmetry thresholding
Ascertaining a level of physical activity of the patient, and determining whether the plurality of discrete temperature data values presents at least one of a plurality of prescribed patterns by evaluating, using the plurality of discrete temperature data values and an ulcer prediction model, whether a thermal asymmetry of the two feet exceeds a pre-determined threshold, the ulcer prediction model being a function of the level of physical activity of the patient.
Ulcer/pre-ulcer emergence output information based on evaluation
Producing output information specifically predicting emergence of an ulcer or pre-ulcer on at least one of the two feet, where producing is a function of said evaluating.
Across both independent claims, ulcer emergence prediction is grounded in arch-conformed temperature sensor arrays producing discrete temperature data, followed by physical-activity-dependent ulcer prediction model evaluation of thermal asymmetry against a pre-determined threshold as part of matching prescribed patterns, resulting in output information specifically predicting ulcer or pre-ulcer emergence.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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