Optical Skin Surface Detector for Capillary Refill Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for assessing capillary refill behavior are subjective and vary based on the examiner's pressure and impression depth, making them non-standardized and unreliable for evaluating microcirculation.
Innovation Solution
A method and device utilizing spatially and spectrally resolved optical detection with a predefined skin surface area and constant pressure to objectively measure capillary refill time, blanching dynamics, and skin elasticity, ensuring reproducibility and comparability across examinations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual pressure application by examiner is used, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to variability in pressure and impression depth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical pressure application with a controlled pressure generation system that applies standardized pressure forces to the skin surface. This substitution eliminates examiner variability while maintaining ease of operation through automated control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent standardizes critical parameters including pressure magnitude (e.g., 500g force), pressure duration (e.g., 5 seconds), and contact area dimensions. By fixing these parameters, the system achieves measurement precision while remaining easy to operate through pre-programmed protocols.
2Measurement precision
If standardized pressure and time parameters are applied, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple functions into unified components: the pressure application mechanism also serves as the reference frame for optical detection, and the detector device performs both spatial mapping and temporal monitoring. This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically determines capillary refill time by comparing sequential images and calculating pixel intensity changes, eliminating the need for manual timing and evaluation. This self-service approach handles complex measurements without proportionally increasing operational complexity.
3Measurement precision
If spatially and spectrally resolved optical detection is used, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to advanced detector requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex manual assessment procedures with automated optical detection systems that capture spatial and spectral information. This substitution achieves high measurement precision through objective image analysis while the automated processing keeps operational complexity manageable.
4Device complexity
If examiner-dependent manual assessment is used, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to subjective evaluation variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces subjective human assessment with objective optical detection and automated image analysis. This substitution eliminates examiner bias and variability, significantly improving reliability while the standardized algorithms keep the system relatively simple to operate.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides objective feedback through automated calculation of capillary refill time based on pixel intensity changes over time. This feedback mechanism ensures consistent, reliable measurements without requiring complex subjective judgment, maintaining simplicity while improving reliability.
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 solution enables standardized, user-independent evaluation of microcirculation, providing reliable and quantifiable capillary refill behavior analysis, minimizing subjective factors and allowing for comprehensive assessment of capillary refill dynamics and skin discoloration changes.
Implementation Method 1
A spatially and spectrally resolved optical detection is carried out by at least one detector device with an optical detector device at a skin surface area
Data Source
AI summary
A method for the objective determination of capillary refill behavior on a human body surface in which a spatially and spectrally resolved optical detection is carried out by at least one detector device (1) at a skin surface area (2) having a predefined areal size and outer contour. Subsequently a predefined pressure p constant over the skin surface area (2) is exerted over a predefined time t1; and the pressure effect is ended after expiry of this time t1. The spatially and spectrally resolved optical detection is carried out by the detector device (1) and the respective capillary refill behavior is spatially and temporally determined at a time t2 up to which at least one first threshold value of the measurement values detected simultaneously with spatial resolution has reached the measurement value that had been optically detected before the start of the pressure effect.