Ipsilateral ulcer and pre-ulcer detection method and apparatus
Inventors
Linders, David R. • Petersen, Brian
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11771363-B2
Publication Date
2023-10-03
Expiration Date
Abstract
A system has a body with a base having a top surface with a receiving region to receive the bottom of a single foot. Among other things, the base may be in the form of an open or closed platform with a plurality of temperature sensors in communication with the top surface of the receiving region. The plurality of temperature sensors are within the receiving region and configured to activate after receipt of a stimulus applied to one or both the platform and the plurality of temperature sensors. A comparator is configured to form a temperature range as a function of the temperature value distribution and compare a percentage of the range size of the temperature distribution to a threshold value. An output produces ulcer information indicating the emergence of an ulcer or pre-ulcer when the percentage of the range size equals or exceeds the threshold value.
Core Innovation
A foot ulcer detection system includes a body with a base having a top surface and a receiving region configured to receive the bottom of a single foot, where the base forms an open platform or a closed platform. A set of temperature sensors is in communication with the top surface of the receiving region and is spaced apart within the receiving region, activates after receipt of a stimulus applied to one or both the open or closed platform and the set of temperature sensors, and thermally communicates with the bottom of the single foot within the receiving region to ascertain a current temperature at multiple different spaced apart locations of the bottom of the single foot.
The temperature sensors produce a set of temperature values, with each location having one associated temperature value. A comparator operatively coupled with the set of temperature sensors determines a distribution of temperature values and calculates an interpercentile range between or including the zero percentile and the one hundred percentile, where the interpercentile range is a temperature value difference between temperatures at two different percentiles.
The comparator compares the interpercentile range to a threshold value, and an output operatively coupled with the comparator produces ulcer information relating to the emergence of an ulcer or pre-ulcer when the interpercentile range equals or exceeds the threshold value. The sensor distribution analysis is directed to identifying ulcer or pre-ulcer emergence based on the size of the interpercentile range.
Claims Coverage
The document includes one independent claim directed to a foot ulcer detection system that determines an interpercentile range from temperature sensors and outputs ulcer information when the interpercentile range meets or exceeds a threshold. The claim set further refines this approach with additional inventive features in dependent claims.
Interpercentile range from spaced temperature sensors for ulcer emergence output
A comparator determines a distribution of temperature values from a set of temperature values produced at multiple different spaced apart locations of the bottom of a single foot and defines an interpercentile range between or including the zero percentile and the one hundred percentile as a temperature value difference between temperatures at two different percentiles; the comparator calculates the interpercentile range and compares it to a threshold value, and an output produces ulcer information relating to the emergence of an ulcer or pre-ulcer when the interpercentile range equals or exceeds the threshold value.
Open or closed platform receiving region with activated spaced temperature sensors
A body includes a base with a top surface and a receiving region configured to receive the bottom of a single foot, where the base forms an open platform or a closed platform; a set of temperature sensors is spaced apart within the receiving region, activates after receipt of a stimulus applied to one or both the open or closed platform and the set of temperature sensors, and thermally communicates with the bottom of the single foot to ascertain a current temperature at each of a set of different spaced apart locations and produce a set of temperature values.
Interpercentile range thresholding for ulcer information
The comparator is configured to calculate the interpercentile range and to compare the interpercentile range to a threshold value, and the output is configured to produce ulcer information relating to the emergence of an ulcer or pre-ulcer when the interpercentile range equals or exceeds the threshold value.
Second comparator using central tendency statistic with ambient temperature thresholding
The system additionally includes a second comparator that computes a central tendency statistic (mean, median, or mode) from a set of temperature values, generates a given value based on that statistic and ambient temperature, compares the given value to a second threshold value, and produces ulcer information based on that comparison.
Across the independent and dependent claim set, the main inventive approach uses spaced temperature sensors under a single foot to form temperature value distributions, computes an interpercentile range, compares it to a threshold, and outputs ulcer information upon interpercentile range meeting or exceeding the threshold, with optional dependent refinements including threshold ranges, interpercentile range endpoints behavior, and an additional decision path using central tendency statistics together with ambient temperature and a second threshold.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
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