System and method for measuring edema at home and measurement pattern for use therewith
Inventors
Sloat, Daniel L. • Sysun, Lisa
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12400322-B2
Publication Date
2025-08-26
Expiration Date
Abstract
A system and method for measuring edema, at home, is provided, along with a measuring pattern for use therewith. The system includes a computing system that has an imaging device, a processor, a memory, and a wireless transmitter. The computing system is configured to capture edema data of a patient and send the data to a remote doctor. The pattern can be incorporated into a flexible sheet substrate that can be placed over a portion of a patient's skin. By pressing the flexible sheet substrate into the patient, a depression is formed and the pattern is distorted. The imaging device captures an image of the depression and the distorted pattern. The computing system processes the image and determines a depth of the depression based on the distortion of the pattern.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to measuring edema by depressing a portion of a patient’s skin at a location, by pressing a finger against the skin to apply pressure and cause a depression into the portion of the skin. After releasing the pressure, a light pattern is cast against the surface of the skin of the patient, including the depression, at the location, and the light pattern is distorted due to the depression.
An image of the distorted light pattern is captured with the combined pattern-casting and imaging device within 15 seconds after the pressure is released. A computing system compares the image of the distorted light pattern with a preloaded pattern to form a comparison and calculates a depth of the depression based on the comparison.
The disclosed approach supports an at-home edema measurement system with remote monitoring, using wireless transmission of image data and/or depth and edema severity to a doctor. The system is described as implementable on smart devices, including a phone app and live-stream video options, and the disclosed pattern-casting uses a stretchable flexible sheet or other pattern sources with a distortionable pattern on skin, including variants where a light projector is adapted to cast the pattern onto the skin.
Claims Coverage
The document includes one independent claim. The independent claim comprises five inventive features focused on depressing skin, projecting a distorted light pattern from a combined pattern-casting and imaging device, capturing the image within a specified time after pressure release, comparing the captured image to a preloaded pattern, and calculating a depression depth from the comparison.
Depressing skin to form a depression
Depressing a portion of skin of a patient at a location by applying pressure with a finger to cause a depression into the portion of the skin, then releasing the pressure.
Casting a distorted light pattern from a combined device
Casting a light pattern against the surface of the skin of the patient, including the depression, after the pressure is released, where the light pattern is cast from a combined pattern-casting and imaging device and is distorted due to the depression.
Capturing the distorted pattern image within a defined time
Capturing an image of the distorted light pattern with the combined pattern-casting and imaging device within 15 seconds after the pressure is released.
Comparing the image to a preloaded pattern
Using a computing system to compare the image of the distorted light pattern with a preloaded pattern to form a comparison.
Calculating depression depth from the comparison
Using the computing system to calculate a depth of the depression based on the comparison.
Across the independent claim, edema measurement is driven by forming a skin depression, projecting and imaging a distorted light pattern from a combined pattern-casting and imaging device within a short post-release window, and computing a depression depth by comparing the captured distorted pattern to a preloaded pattern.
Stated Advantages
Remote monitoring by wireless transmission to a doctor.
At-home implementation using smart-device implementation options.
Documented Applications
At-home edema diagnostics/measurement using a skin-depression and distorted light-pattern imaging approach with optional remote monitoring to a doctor.
Remote monitoring of edema severity including transmission of image data and/or depth/severity to a doctor/clinic.
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