Mobile Imaging Joint Diagnosis Platform
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current orthopedic pre-surgery and post-surgery joint examinations require patients to visit facilities with physicians and imaging equipment, increasing costs, and there is a need for methods to diagnose and treat joint ailments in a home environment using low-cost, commonly available equipment.
Innovation Solution
A platform that allows patients and non-orthopedic providers to diagnose and treat joint injuries using mobile imaging devices, sensors, and software for in-home joint evaluations, including sensor placement, image capture, and analysis to determine joint characteristics and alignment, and provide therapy validation and remediation recommendations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If patients visit facilities with physicians and imaging equipment for joint examinations, then diagnostic accuracy and professional evaluation are improved, but costs and patient burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses mobile imaging devices (smartphones, tablets) to capture images of joints, creating digital copies that replace the need for expensive facility-based imaging equipment. These images are then analyzed using software algorithms to provide diagnostic information without requiring patients to visit medical facilities
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical imaging equipment (X-ray machines, MRI scanners) with mobile imaging devices and software-based analysis systems. The diagnostic process transitions from facility-based mechanical systems to portable electronic systems with computational analysis
2Measurement precision
If specialized orthopedic facilities and equipment are used for joint examinations, then diagnostic capability is improved, but accessibility and convenience deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables patients to perform their own joint examinations using mobile devices they already possess. The system guides patients through the examination process, allowing them to capture images and obtain preliminary diagnostic information without requiring appointments at specialized facilities
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes mobile devices that patients already own for multiple purposes - communication, entertainment, and now medical examination. This universal device serves multiple functions, eliminating the need for dedicated medical equipment and making the system accessible to everyone with a smartphone or tablet
3Measurement precision
If professional physicians perform joint examinations, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but time consumption and resource requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary diagnostic evaluation through mobile imaging and software analysis before patients need to see a physician. The system captures joint images, analyzes them using algorithms, and provides preliminary diagnostic information that can guide subsequent medical consultations, reducing the need for extensive in-person examinations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces software analysis algorithms as an intermediary between the patient's joint condition and the physician's diagnosis. The software processes images and provides diagnostic information, acting as a mediator that reduces the time and resources required for direct physician-patient examination
Data Source
AI summary
A method for identifying human joint characteristics, the method including the steps of: using a mobile imaging device, taking at least one image of the joint, and then identifying a joint pain location by identifying three different locations in the image near the joint, so that a center point between the locations can be triangulated.