Method and apparatus for indicating the risk of an emerging ulcer
Inventors
Bloom, Jonathan David • Linders, David Robert • Engler, Jeffrey Mark • Petersen, Brian Jude • Geboff, Adam • Kale, David Charles
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-9259178-B2
Publication Date
2016-02-16
Expiration Date
Abstract
A method of monitoring at least one foot of a patient provides an open platform for receiving at least one foot. The open platform has at least one temperature sensor for generating a plurality of temperature data values after receipt of the at least one foot. The method also forms a thermogram of the sole of the at least one foot from the temperature data values, and determines whether the thermogram presents at least one of a plurality of prescribed patterns. Finally, the method produces output information indicating the risk of an ulcer emerging on the foot as a function of whether the thermogram is determined to present the at least one prescribed pattern.
Core Innovation
The invention determines the risk of an ulcer emerging on at least one foot of a patient by collecting discrete temperature data values with sensors on an open platform and forming a spatially continuous, two-dimensional thermogram of the sole. A pattern analysis assesses whether the thermogram presents prescribed temperature patterns, including comparisons across time, between corresponding portions of the patient's two feet, or between different portions of the same foot. Output information indicates ulcer risk as a function of the pattern determination.
Disclosed implementations include thermogram formation by interpolation, optional foot-orientation and baseline processing, and local or remote analysis providing quantitative indicators or network notifications. The system configurations display bilateral temperature distributions, temperature trends mapped to ulcer-risk ranges, and a risk-analysis display with patient risk percentages over time. The stated purpose is to monitor foot-ulcer risk and identify risk.
Claims Coverage
The claims contain four independent claims defining four inventive features across method, apparatus, and computer program product implementations.
Risk determination from a sole thermogram
Generating discrete temperature data values with sensors on an open platform, forming a spatially continuous data set of two-dimensional temperature values across the sole, determining whether the thermogram presents prescribed patterns, and producing ulcer-risk information as a function of that determination.
Network-received thermogram data and temperature comparisons
Receiving a thermogram message through a network, forming a spatially continuous thermogram of the sole from the received temperature data, determining prescribed patterns based at least in part on comparisons at the same portion of the same foot at different times, corresponding portions of the patient's two feet, or different portions of the same foot, and producing ulcer-risk information based on the pattern determination.
Apparatus for thermogram pattern recognition
An open platform with temperature sensors, a coupled thermogram generator that forms a spatially continuous, two-dimensional thermogram of the sole, a coupled pattern recognition system that determines whether prescribed patterns are present, and a coupled analyzer that produces ulcer-risk information based on the pattern determination.
Computer program product for network-based risk determination
Computer-readable program code for receiving a thermogram message through a network, forming a spatially continuous, two-dimensional thermogram of the sole, determining prescribed patterns through comparisons across time or between portions of one or both feet, and producing ulcer-risk information based on the pattern determination.
The four independent claims cover method, apparatus, and computer program product forms of determining foot-ulcer risk from temperature data, a spatially continuous sole thermogram, and prescribed-pattern analysis, distinguishing platform-based processing from network-based data receipt.
Stated Advantages
Convenient regular monitoring of foot-ulcer risk.
Earlier identification of ulcer risk.
Documented Applications
Monitoring and visualizing the risk of an ulcer emerging on at least one foot of a patient using temperature data from an open platform and analysis of sole thermograms.
Displaying temperature trends and patient risk percentages over time for longitudinal tracking.
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