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

The present invention is a system and method for assessing the severity and stage of peripheral arterial disease and lower extremity wounds using angiosome mapping and functional markers. This invention combines mechanical measurements and angiosome mapping to provide a more objective and accurate evaluation of disease states. The system includes a sensor for measuring peripheral vascular conditions, a lower extremity angiosome knowledge base, and a processing device for displaying an angiosome map based upon the expected normal underlying arterial architecture. This system automates the evaluation and communication of disease states and may aid in the diagnosis, management, and treatment of peripheral arterial disease and wound healing.

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 improvements to the system using angiosome mapping that existing scoring systems, such as Fontaine Stages, Rutherford Category, S(AD) Foot Ulcer Classification, Wagner Scale for wound classification and the like, are unable to objectify.

However, knowledge of the angiosome principal is not well understood within other medical disciplines.

Further, existing representations for angiosomes are not integrated into systems for assessing PAD, CLI or DM conditions.

Moreover current use of angiosome concepts, if any, is limited to the subjective interpretation of combined sets of data by the physician.

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