3D Pressure Ulcer Measurement With Non-Contact Wound Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for measuring pressure ulcers are inaccurate due to irregular wound shapes and require direct contact, which can lead to contamination and infection, while computer-aided measurement systems are limited by wound curvature and camera angle.
Innovation Solution
A Pressure Ulcer Monitoring System (PrUMS) using a 3D camera and segmentation algorithms for precise wound measurement, incorporating color and surface gradient segmentations to determine wound boundaries and dimensions without direct contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If ruler-based manual measurement techniques are used, then the measurement process is simple and direct, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to irregular wound shapes and subjective assessment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual ruler-based mechanical measurement with a computer-aided automated measurement system using digital images and algorithms. The system captures wound images and automatically calculates area, length, and width through image processing, eliminating subjective human assessment while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a digital copy of the wound through photography, then performs measurements on this copy rather than the physical wound itself. This allows for precise, repeatable measurements without direct contact with the wound, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and precision.
2Ease of operation
If direct contact measurement methods are used, then the measurement process is straightforward, but the harmful factors worsen due to wound contamination and infection risk
Solution Approach 1:
The system measures a digital copy of the wound rather than the physical wound itself. Photographs capture wound characteristics, and all measurements are performed on these images, eliminating direct contact and associated contamination risks while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces digital images as an intermediary between the measurement system and the wound. The camera captures light reflected from the wound, creating an intermediate digital representation that can be measured without touching the wound, thus preventing contamination.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If photograph-based wound area determination is used, then the risk of wound contamination is reduced, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to wound bed curvature and camera angle limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional photograph analysis to three-dimensional surface mapping. By capturing depth information and creating a 3D representation of the wound surface, the system compensates for camera angle limitations and curvature effects, achieving both non-contact measurement and high precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the measurement parameters from simple 2D image analysis to 3D surface characteristics including depth, curvature, and surface gradient. This allows accurate area calculation that accounts for wound bed curvature and camera perspective, resolving the precision limitation while maintaining contamination-free measurement.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for imaging and analysis are described. Accurate pressure ulcer measurement is critical in assessing the effectiveness of treatment. However, the traditional measuring process is subjective. Each health care provider may measure the same wound differently, especially related to the depth of the wound. Even the same health care provider may obtain inconsistent measurements when measuring the same wound at different times. Also, the measuring process requires frequent contact with the wound, which increases risk of contamination or infection and can be uncomfortable for the patient. The present application describes a new automatic pressure ulcer monitoring system (PrUMS), which uses a tablet connected to a 3D scanner, to provide an objective, consistent, non-contact measurement method. The present disclosure combines color segmentation on 2D images and 3D surface gradients to automatically segment the wound region for advanced wound measurements.