Method and system for assessing severity and stage of peripheral arterial disease and lower extremity wounds using angiosome mapping

Abstract

The present invention provides a system for assessing the severity and stage of PAD including at least one sensor that measures skin perfusion pressure; a knowledge base that provides data on lower extremity angiosomes; and a processing device in operable communication with the sensor and the knowledge base, the processing device that outputs a visual representation of at least one of the lower extremity angiosomes that guides the sensor in the mapping of a testing site relative to a target vessel where the skin perfusion pressure measurement will be taken.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 13 / 573,989, filed on Oct. 18, 2012, now allowed; which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 12 / 321,813, abandoned; which claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Prov. Ser. No. 61 / 062,476, filed Jan. 25, 2008; and which is a continuation in part of U.S. Ser. No. 12 / 021,938, filed Jan. 29, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,133,177; and which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 11 / 468,203 filed Aug. 29, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,736,311. The entireties of all of the foregoing applications are hereby incorporated by reference.COPYRIGHT[0002]A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whats...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014]The invention includes a method and system for assessing the severity and stage of PAD and/or wound healing. The invention includes at least one sensor adapted to measure peripheral vascular conditions of a patient; a lower extremity angiosome knowledge base that provides data on lower extremity angiosomes; and a processing device in operable communication with the sensor and the lower extremity angiosome knowledge base. The processing device outputs a visual representation of at least one of the lower extremity angiosomes included in the knowledge base, the visual representation

Problems solved by technology

However, atherosclerosis of the peripheral vascular system, e.g. in the lower extremities, also contributes to significant morbidity and mortality in patients.

Despite its prevalence and cardiovascular risk implications, only 25% of PAD patients undergo treatment principally due to lack of diagnosis.

However, diagnosis is critical, as people with PAD have a four to five times higher risk of heart attack and/or stroke.

Thus, the prognosis for patients with PAD is poor.

However, because the diagnosis of peripheral arterial disease is critical the present inventors have developed improveme

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