Thermal and Optical Imaging for Body-Part Temperature Asymmetry

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Solution Overview

Problem

Diabetic foot ulcers are difficult to diagnose early and require costly, time-consuming professional examinations, which are not feasible for many individuals, necessitating a self-assessment tool for temperature asymmetry estimation to identify health disorders.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a thermal and optical camera, a mobile device, and a remote diagnostic processor that analyzes thermal and optical images to determine functional disorders or inflammation by comparing image displacements between inspected and contralateral body parts, enabling self-administered health assessments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If frequent professional examination is conducted to detect diabetic foot ulcers, then detection reliability is improved, but cost and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection reliabilityVSAvoidtime consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables individuals to perform self-examination of foot temperature asymmetry using portable thermal imaging devices and mobile applications. Users can independently capture thermal images, compare them with reference images, and detect potential ulcers without requiring frequent professional medical examinations, thereby reducing time loss while maintaining detection capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual professional examination with automated thermal imaging and image processing systems. The system automatically captures thermal images, processes them through algorithms to detect temperature asymmetries, and provides diagnostic assistance, eliminating the need for repeated manual physical examinations by healthcare professionals

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If frequent professional examination is conducted to detect diabetic foot ulcers, then detection reliability is improved, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection reliabilityVSAvoidcost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs inexpensive portable thermal imaging devices and software applications that can be widely distributed. These low-cost tools replace expensive professional examination equipment, making accessible foot ulcer detection affordable for most individuals while maintaining sufficient detection reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Ease of operation

If self-inspection is performed by individuals, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to health impairments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidmeasurement precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual visual inspection with automated thermal imaging and image processing systems. The system automatically captures thermal images, processes them through algorithms to detect temperature asymmetries, and provides diagnostic assistance, eliminating the need for repeated manual physical examinations by healthcare professionals

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces thermal imaging technology as an intermediary between the individual and the detection process. The thermal camera and processing system serve as mediators that objectively measure temperature asymmetries, compensating for the limited capabilities of individuals with diabetes to accurately self-inspect their feet

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Enables early detection of diabetic foot ulcers through self-administered thermal imaging, reducing the need for professional examinations and improving timely intervention.

Implementation Method 1

a thermal camera configured to detect thermal images corresponding to an inspected body part and a reference body part

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInfrared radiation detection: Infrared Radiation

Data Source

PatentUS20250318733A1System, method, and apparatus for temperature asymmetry measurement of body parts

Publication Date: 2025.10.16 UAB DIABETIS

AI summary

Systems, methods, and apparatus for identifying a health disorder based on a temperature asymmetry estimation. A system may include a thermal camera configured to detect thermal images of an inspected body part and a reference body part, which may be contralateral to the inspected body part. The system may further include an optical camera configured to detect optical images of the inspected body part and the reference body part. The system may further include a remote mobile device having a mobile processor programmed to control the thermal camera to detect the thermal images and the optical camera to detect the optical images. The system may further include remote server having a diagnostic processor programmed to determine that a functional disorder or inflammation of the inspected body part has occurred by analyzing the thermal images and the optical images.