Handheld Depth Imaging for Consistent Anatomical Surface Assessment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for assessing anatomical surface features, such as wounds, are labor-intensive, require skilled personnel, and lack a reliable visual record for comparison, leading to inaccurate measurements and variability between assessors.

Innovation Solution

A software facility using a handheld imaging device with integrated image and depth sensors that automatically captures and analyzes anatomical surface features, transmitting data securely to a remote server for processing and storage, enabling precise measurement and recordkeeping.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual techniques are used to assess anatomical surface features, then skilled personnel can perform the assessment, but the process becomes labor-intensive and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassessment accuracyVSAvoidassessment efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical measurement techniques with an automated imaging system that uses cameras and image processing algorithms to capture and analyze anatomical surface features, eliminating the need for skilled personnel to physically measure and reducing labor intensity while maintaining assessment accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service assessment by allowing patients or caregivers to perform measurements using the imaging device, with the system automatically processing images and providing assessments without requiring skilled personnel intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If manual measurement techniques are used, then personnel can directly examine surface features, but measurement accuracy decreases and variability increases between different personnel

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedirect examination capabilityVSAvoidmeasurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a digital copy of the anatomical surface feature through imaging, replacing direct manual measurement with image-based analysis. This digital copy can be repeatedly measured by algorithms without variation, eliminating human variability while preserving the ability to examine the feature through image viewing and processing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Productivity

If manual assessment methods are used, then personnel can perform measurements, but no visual record is preserved for expert review or subsequent comparison

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement capabilityVSAvoidvisual record preservation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates and stores digital images as permanent records of anatomical surface features at different time points. These visual records can be stored, retrieved, and compared across time to track changes in the feature, providing both measurement capability and permanent documentation without loss of information

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS20250292892A1Automatically assessing an anatomical surface feature and securely managing information related to the same

Publication Date: 2025.09.18 ARANZ HEALTHCARE

AI summary

A facility for procuring and analyzing information about an anatomical surface feature from a caregiver that is usable to generate an assessment of the surface feature is described. The facility displays information about the surface feature used in the assessment of the surface feature. The facility obtains user input and/or data generated by an image capture device to assess the surface feature or update an existing assessment of the surface feature.