Color-Coded Wound Calibration Rings for Accurate Sizing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wound measurement methods, such as using standard rulers or tape, fail to accurately record wound size and physical appearance, leading to difficulties in documentation and legal liability, as visual indicia are often obscured or too small to be captured effectively in photographs.
Innovation Solution
A wound calibration system utilizing color-coded, dimensioned rings or bars that can be applied to wounds for rapid and accurate sizing, allowing for standardized measurement and photography-based documentation, with a color scheme that facilitates size determination from photographs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If standard rulers or tape are used to measure wounds, then measurement can be performed, but accurate recording of wound size and physical appearance cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a calibrated scale with standardized visual indicia (marks, patterns, or objects of known size) as an intermediary between the wound and the measurement process. This intermediary provides reference elements that can be photographed and used to accurately determine wound dimensions, solving the problem of capturing both size and appearance information simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a visual copy or representation of the wound measurement by photographing the wound along with the calibrated scale. This photographic copy preserves both the visual appearance and size information, allowing accurate documentation without losing detail in the original measurement
2Loss of information
If photography is used to document wound appearance, then visual details are captured, but measurement indicia are obscured or too small to see
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by designing the calibrated scale with enlarged or enhanced visual indicia at specific locations adjacent to the wound. The scale includes marks, patterns, or objects of known size that are positioned locally next to the wound area, ensuring they remain visible and measurable in photographs while the wound appearance is also documented
Solution Approach 2:
The calibrated scale serves as a photographic intermediary that bridges the gap between capturing wound appearance and preserving measurement information. The scale's visual indicia are designed to be clearly visible in photographs, providing reference elements that maintain measurement precision even when the wound itself is the primary subject of the image
3Measurement precision
If detailed wound documentation is performed, then accurate assessment is achieved, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs preliminary action by providing a pre-calibrated scale with known dimensions and standardized visual indicia before the measurement process begins. This pre-prepared reference tool eliminates the need for complex measurement calculations or multiple photographs, allowing rapid documentation while maintaining accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The single photographic copy captures both the wound appearance and the calibrated scale simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate measurement documentation steps. This streamlined approach reduces time consumption while preserving detailed assessment information in one comprehensive image
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention include a calibration and measurement system designed primarily for use in the rapid evaluation and characterization of open or visible wounds in patients. The invention in a preferred embodiment comprises a set of colored concentric rings, typically constructed of paper or synthetic paper. The practitioner removes only as many rings, from the center outward, until the entire wound is visible within the open aperture at the center of the remaining rings. The area dimensions of the wound are then read out from the size of the inner remaining ring. Photography optionally records the wound appearance and size. A related system is developed for linear dimensioning of wounds. This embodiment is also designed to standardize the color scheme for accurate photography wound description. The color scheme is also applicable to a linear device to accurately describe wound size. Embodiments of the invention are also useful in forensic and accident investigations.