Ipsilateral ulcer and pre-ulcer detection method and apparatus
Inventors
Petersen, Brian Jude • Linders, David Robert
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12285265-B2
Publication Date
2025-04-29
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 is 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
The invention relates to detecting emergence of a foot ulcer or a foot pre-ulcer by thermally communicating the bottom of a single foot with a modality having a body with a base and a top surface with a receiving region configured to receive the bottom of the single foot. The receiving region includes a plurality of temperature sensors in communication with the top surface and located within the receiving region. After the foot is positioned in the receiving region and in contact with the top surface of the base, the temperature sensors are activated to ascertain a current temperature at each of a set of different locations of the bottom of the foot, producing a set of temperature values with one associated temperature value for each location.
The method produces a distribution of the set of temperature values and determines an interpercentile range formed between or including one or both the zero percentile and the one hundred percentile of the set of temperature values. The interpercentile range comprises a temperature value difference between the temperatures at two different percentiles. The computed interpercentile range size is compared to a threshold value to enable decision making about ulcer or pre-ulcer emergence.
Based on the relationship between the interpercentile range and the threshold value, the method produces electronic output information relating to the emergence of an ulcer or pre-ulcer. In related aspects, electronic output information can further be produced as a function of the interpercentile range relationship and can be used to report foot ischemia even when contralateral comparisons are unavailable, using additional analysis concepts such as tendency statistics and ambient temperature compensation.
Claims Coverage
Two independent methods are identified. Both rely on thermal communication of a single foot with a receiving region containing multiple temperature sensors, computing an interpercentile range from a distribution of temperature values, and comparing that interpercentile range or its relationship to a threshold to produce electronic output information.
Interpercentile range from multi-location single-foot temperature sensing for ulcer/pre-ulcer emergence
Thermally communicating the bottom of a single foot with a modality having a base with a top surface receiving region configured to receive the bottom of the single foot, wherein the receiving region has a plurality of temperature sensors; activating the temperature sensors after the foot is positioned in the receiving region and in contact with the top surface to ascertain current temperature at each of a set of different locations and produce a set of temperature values; producing a distribution of the temperature values and determining an interpercentile range between or including one or both the zero percentile and the one hundred percentile, wherein the interpercentile range comprises a temperature value difference between the temperatures at two different percentiles; comparing the interpercentile range to a threshold value; and producing electronic output information relating to the emergence of an ulcer or pre-ulcer when the interpercentile range size equals or exceeds the threshold value.
Interpercentile range percentile-based relationship to threshold for ulcer/pre-ulcer emergence output
Thermally communicating the bottom of a single foot with a modality having a base with a top surface receiving region configured to receive the bottom of the single foot, wherein the receiving region has a plurality of temperature sensors; activating the temperature sensors after the foot is positioned in the receiving region and in contact with the top surface to ascertain current temperature at each of a set of different locations and produce a set of temperature values; determining percentiles of the set of temperature values forming an interpercentile range between or including one or both the zero percentile and the one hundred percentile, wherein the interpercentile range comprises a temperature value difference between the temperatures at two different percentiles; comparing the interpercentile range of temperatures to a threshold value; and producing electronic output information relating to the emergence of an ulcer or pre-ulcer as a function of its relationship to the interpercentile range.
Across both independent claims, the core coverage is directed to multi-location temperature sensing of a single foot, percentile-based interpercentile range computation from the resulting temperature values, and generating electronic output information for ulcer or pre-ulcer emergence based on a comparison to a threshold or on the relationship of the interpercentile range to that threshold.
Stated Advantages
Enables detection of ulcer emergence and foot pre-ulcer emergence based on percentile-derived temperature range metrics compared to a threshold.
Supports assessment output that can include possible foot ischemia in addition to ulcer or pre-ulcer emergence.
Operates even when contralateral comparisons are unavailable.
Documented Applications
Detection of emergence of a foot ulcer or a foot pre-ulcer using an ipsilateral single-foot temperature-sensing modality and percentile-based interpercentile range analysis.
Reporting foot ischemia based on the relationship of an interpercentile range to a threshold.
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