Handheld Multi-Modal Wound Assessment Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wound care management for diabetic foot ulcers is hindered by patient non-compliance and irregular clinical visits, leading to delayed healing and increased risk of severe infections, with a lack of low-cost mobile-based technologies for comprehensive remote monitoring and prevention.
Innovation Solution
A multi-modal, portable, handheld device for remote wound assessment using near-infrared, thermal, and stereoscopic cameras, along with light therapy, which provides physiological measurements and digital imaging, enabling remote monitoring and therapy for diabetic foot ulcers, complementing traditional clinical assessments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If comprehensive multi-modal imaging and therapy are provided, then wound assessment capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple imaging modalities (visible light camera, NIR camera, thermal camera, stereoscopic camera) and light therapy functions into a single handheld device. This merging approach enables comprehensive wound assessment including visual inspection, oxygenation measurement, temperature monitoring, and 3D depth mapping, while maintaining portability and ease of use for remote patient monitoring
Solution Approach 2:
The device is designed as a multi-functional platform that performs diverse wound assessment tasks (imaging, temperature measurement, oxygenation analysis) and provides light therapy treatment. This universal design allows a single device to replace multiple separate tools, improving measurement precision without proportionally increasing complexity
2Ease of operation
If remote monitoring is implemented, then patient compliance is improved, but measurement precision may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The device enables patients to perform self-assessment of their wounds at home through intuitive operation. Patients can capture images, view real-time feedback on wound conditions, and monitor healing progress without requiring clinical personnel, thereby improving compliance while maintaining measurement quality through automated multi-modal sensing
Solution Approach 2:
The device provides immediate visual and physiological feedback to patients during self-assessment, displaying wound images, temperature maps, and oxygenation levels. This real-time feedback mechanism guides patients to capture adequate images and understand their wound status, ensuring measurement precision is maintained even during remote self-monitoring
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
Facilitates early detection of tissue damage and infection, accelerates wound healing through low-level light therapy, and enhances patient compliance by providing comprehensive remote monitoring and therapy, reducing the need for frequent clinical visits.
Implementation Method 1
The device can be used to take physiological measurements of temperature and/or tissue oxygenation (TO)
Implementation Method 2
The device can be used to take physiological measurements of temperature
Implementation Method 3
light therapy, such as low-level light therapy (LLLT) can be provided (e.g., via one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs))
Data Source
AI summary
Multi-modal, portable, handheld devices for tissue assessment (e.g., wound assessment) are provided, as are methods of fabricating and methods of using the same. The devices can be used for virtual medicine (VM)-based wound management, such as VM-based diabetic foot triage (DFT) and management. The device can be used to take physiological measurements of temperature and/or tissue oxygenation of a wound to assess the wound, for example in a remote setting environment. The device can also be used to provide therapy for tissue repair and/or wound healing, apart from the multi-modal imaging of the tissue surface of the patient. For example, light therapy, such as low-level light therapy (LLLT) can be provided via one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) and/or laser diodes.