Camera-Projector Hemoglobin Measurement System
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for measuring hemoglobin levels are either laboratory-based, require special materials, or involve handling blood samples, making them unsuitable for use at accident sites and posing risks of blood-borne diseases.
Innovation Solution
A medical system using a camera-projector system on mobile devices to project a hemoglobin color scale and acquire images, allowing for objective estimation of hemoglobin levels without the need for laboratory settings or handling blood samples, utilizing a processor to identify blood color regions and estimate hemoglobin levels based on projected and acquired images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If laboratory-based tests or special materials are used to measure hemoglobin levels, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate due to requiring specialized equipment and materials not available at accident sites
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a digital copy of the hemoglobin color scale displayed on a mobile device screen instead of a physical reference card. The camera captures an image of the blood sample and compares it against the digital color scale, eliminating the need for physical test papers and reference materials while maintaining measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual visual comparison methods with an automated image processing system. The camera captures the blood sample image, and software algorithms automatically analyze the color to determine hemoglobin levels, substituting the mechanical/visual comparison process with electronic imaging and computational analysis
2Measurement precision
If blood samples are handled during testing, then measurement precision is improved, but object-generated harmful factors worsen due to risk of blood-borne disease transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential function of blood analysis (color measurement) while eliminating the need to handle actual blood samples. The system uses a small amount of blood or blood substitute material that does not require contact with the device, separating the measurement function from the harmful blood handling aspect
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a digital color scale and image processing algorithm as intermediaries between the blood sample and the measurement process. The camera captures the blood color indirectly through imaging, and the software acts as a mediator to interpret the color data, eliminating direct contact between the user and blood samples
3Ease of operation
If WHO test paper and HbCS are used at accident sites, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to environmental conditions affecting results and unavailability of materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a dynamic digital color scale displayed on a mobile device screen that can be adjusted and updated, rather than a static printed reference card. The screen can compensate for varying environmental lighting conditions by adjusting the display, maintaining reliability across different accident site environments
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the color scale from a printed reference card to a digital display on a mobile device screen. This parameter change allows the color scale to be dynamically adjusted for different lighting conditions and ensures availability since the mobile device is already present at the accident site
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate, objective, and safe measurement of hemoglobin levels at accident sites without the need for special materials or handling blood samples, improving accessibility and reducing the risk of disease transmission.
Implementation Method 1
acquire an image of blood of the subject and the projected HbCS using the imaging system
Data Source
AI summary
A medical system (10) and method measures hemoglobin level of a subject (38). A hemoglobin color scale (HbCS) (22) is projected into afield of view (FOV) (42) of an imaging system (12). The HbCS (22) includes a plurality of blood color regions (26a-f), each blood color region (26a-f) corresponding to a hemoglobin level and colored to represent the color of blood at the corresponding hemoglobin level. An image of blood of the subject (38), and the projected HbCS, is acquired using the imaging system (12).