Diabetic Foot Temperature Detector with Ambient Normalization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Diabetic patients with neuropathy often fail to detect foot injuries or inflammation due to loss of sensation, leading to potential ulcers, infections, and amputations, necessitating an effective method for early detection of temperature differences in the feet.
Innovation Solution
A temperature detector equipped with a radiation sensor and an ambient temperature sensor, which computes normalized surface temperatures to account for ambient temperature variations, allowing for differential temperature measurements between contralateral foot regions to detect neuropathy and foot injuries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If infrared thermometers are used to measure foot temperature in diabetic patients, then early detection of foot injuries is enabled, but ambient temperature variations cause inaccurate temperature readings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by introducing ambient temperature as an additional measurement parameter. The device measures both foot temperature and ambient temperature, then uses the ambient temperature value to normalize and adjust the foot temperature reading, compensating for environmental influences and improving measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses ambient temperature measurement as an intermediary step. By measuring the ambient temperature first and using it as a reference, the system can calculate the temperature differential between the foot and environment, thereby isolating the true foot temperature from ambient temperature effects
2Reliability
If differential temperature measurement between contralateral feet is performed, then neuropathy and foot injuries can be detected, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a single infrared thermometer device that can measure multiple body sites (both feet, ankles, legs) and perform multiple functions (temperature measurement, differential calculation, injury detection). This multi-functional approach enables comprehensive diabetic foot monitoring without requiring multiple specialized devices
Solution Approach 2:
The device performs self-comparison by automatically measuring and comparing temperatures between contralateral feet. The system independently calculates temperature differentials and provides alerts when abnormalities are detected, reducing the need for manual intervention or complex external monitoring systems
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
The temperature detector provides early and accurate indications of neuropathy and foot injuries by normalizing temperature readings, enabling diabetic patients to seek treatment promptly and preventing further complications.
Implementation Method 1
A temperature detector includes a radiation sensor, which views a surface area of a body and provides a radiation sensor output
Implementation Method 2
Such thermometers measure temperature of distal ear canal tissue or axilla tissue or forehead tissue and calculate arterial core temperature via heat balance
Data Source
AI summary
A temperature detector is provided that is particularly suited towards the differential measurement of foot temperatures in diabetics. A radiation sensor views a surface area of the body and provides a radiation sensor output. Electronics coupled to the radiation sensor and an ambient temperature sensor compute a normalized surface temperature of the area normalized to a specified ambient temperature as a function of a sensed ambient temperature and a sensed radiation.