Optical Edema Measurement Pattern for Repeatable Home Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for assessing edema are unreliable, cumbersome, and lack the ability to provide consistent, repeatable measurements that can be performed at home or in clinical settings, and there is a need for remote monitoring capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a flexible sheet substrate with a pattern, an imaging device, and a computing system that captures and processes image data to measure edema depth, allowing for remote transmission of edema data to healthcare providers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If digital manipulation (pitting method) is used to assess edema, then the assessment can be performed with simple equipment, but the measurement reliability and repeatability are poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical digital manipulation method with an optical measurement system. A flexible sheet with a pattern is placed on the skin, and an imaging device captures images of the pattern distortion caused by edema. The computing system analyzes the distorted pattern to measure edema depth, substituting mechanical pressing with optical imaging and digital analysis to achieve reliable, repeatable measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a flexible sheet substrate with a pattern as an intermediary between the skin and the imaging device. This intermediary carries the pattern that gets distorted by the edema, allowing the imaging device to indirectly measure edema depth through pattern distortion analysis rather than direct mechanical contact.
2Productivity
If digital manipulation is used for edema assessment, then the method is quick and simple, but it cannot provide consistent repeatable measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces subjective mechanical assessment with objective optical measurement. The imaging device captures digital images of the pattern distortion, and the computing system automatically analyzes the distortion to provide consistent, quantifiable measurements that can be repeated reliably across different time points and operators.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a digital copy (image) of the pattern distortion rather than relying on physical manual assessment. The imaging device captures the distorted pattern as digital data, which can be consistently analyzed and stored, providing repeatable measurements that reflect the actual edema state without operator variability.
3Device complexity
If traditional edema assessment methods are used, then no specialized equipment is needed, but remote monitoring capability is lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical assessment with an automated optical system that can be deployed in various settings including homes, clinics, and hospitals. The imaging device and computing system work together to provide objective measurements that can be transmitted remotely, enabling monitoring in diverse environments without requiring complex specialized equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a multi-functional system that can operate in multiple settings (home, clinic, hospital) and serve multiple purposes (diagnosis, monitoring, research). The flexible sheet with pattern, imaging device, and computing system combination can be used across different patient populations and edema types, providing universal applicability with remote monitoring capability.
4Ease of operation
If clinical edema assessment is performed manually, then it can be done in various settings, but it lacks objective quantitative data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces subjective manual assessment with objective optical measurement and digital analysis. The imaging device captures quantitative information about pattern distortion, and the computing system processes this data to provide measurable edema depth values, converting qualitative clinical observations into objective quantitative data while maintaining ease of use across different settings.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for measuring edema, at home, is provided, along with a measuring pattern for use therewith. The system includes a computing system that has an imaging device, a processor, a memory, and a wireless transmitter. The computing system is configured to capture edema data of a patient and send the data to a remote doctor. The pattern can be incorporated into a flexible sheet substrate that can be placed over a portion of a patient's skin. By pressing the flexible sheet substrate into the patient, a depression is formed and the pattern is distorted. The imaging device captures an image of the depression and the distorted pattern. The computing system processes the image and determines a depth of the depression based on the distortion of the pattern.