3D Wound Surface Assessment for Accurate Non-Contact Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for assessing anatomical surface features, such as wounds, are labor-intensive, inaccurate, and lack a reliable visual record, especially when using reference objects that can contaminate the wound and lead to errors in area calculation.
Innovation Solution
A method using a handheld capture device with a three-dimensional imaging system to capture and process data, identifying sub-regions and tissue types, and displaying three-dimensional models with overlaid image data for precise wound assessment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual techniques are used to assess wounds, then skilled personnel can examine and contact the wound, but the process becomes labour-intensive and measurements may be inaccurate with significant variation between different personnel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical measurement techniques with an automated digital imaging system. A camera captures images of the wound, and a processor automatically calculates wound area by detecting the wound boundary and comparing it to a reference object, eliminating the need for manual measurement and reducing inter-observer variation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a digital copy of the wound through imaging. Instead of direct manual measurement, the system captures a visual representation of the wound and processes this copy to determine wound characteristics, enabling automated analysis without physical contact or manual intervention.
2Extent of automation
If a reference object is placed next to the wound for automated monitoring, then area calculation becomes possible, but this requires an additional cumbersome step and risks contamination of the wound
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a reference object as an intermediary element that enables automated measurement without requiring direct contact with the wound. The reference object serves as a mediator between the imaging system and the wound, providing scale information necessary for area calculation while maintaining a non-invasive approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The system captures a digital copy of both the wound and reference object simultaneously in a single image. This eliminates the need for physical manipulation or multiple steps, as all measurement information is obtained from the captured image data, reducing contamination risk while maintaining automation.
3Extent of automation
If the target is not in the plane of the wound, or if it is oblique, or if the wound is not planar, then automated area calculation using reference objects will produce errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional planar assumptions to three-dimensional spatial reasoning. By considering the wound as a volumetric feature rather than a flat surface, the system can accurately calculate area even when the wound is oblique or non-planar, correcting for perspective distortion and depth variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts measurement parameters based on the detected wound geometry. When the wound is found to be non-planar or oblique, the calculation methodology is modified to account for these conditions, changing the mathematical approach from simple 2D area calculation to 3D surface area computation.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods for assessing a skin surface of a patient and associated systems and devices are described herein. A method configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can include, for example, receiving a three-dimensional data set representative of the patient's skin surface and determining a boundary of a feature of the patient's skin in the three-dimensional data set. The method can further include determining, with a processor, a three-dimensional surface area of the feature within the boundary. In some embodiments, the method can also include identifying a plurality of sub-regions within the boundary and identifying one or more tissue types in each sub-region.