Wound Analysis System Using Multi-Spectral Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wound care for chronic wounds in elderly or diabetic patients is inefficient due to the time-consuming nature of medical inspections and the variability in wound diagnosis among medical personnel, leading to prolonged recovery times.
Innovation Solution
A wound analyzing system that combines an illumination device providing visible and infrared light, an image sensor capturing images, and a processor performing image segmentation and blood-oxygen-concentration calculations to classify wounds and determine healing stages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If medical personnel perform manual wound inspections, then wound diagnosis can be made, but it requires plenty of time and increases workload
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical inspection by medical personnel with an automated optical imaging system. The system uses visible light and infrared light sources with corresponding image sensors to capture wound images, which are then processed by a processor to automatically classify wound parts and calculate blood oxygen concentration, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual inspections while maintaining diagnostic accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates optical copies of the wound through imaging. The visible light image sensor captures a visual copy of the wound surface, and the infrared light image sensor captures a copy related to blood oxygen concentration. These image copies are then analyzed by the processor to diagnose wound conditions without requiring direct manual examination
2Reliability
If multiple medical personnel diagnose wounds, then comprehensive assessment is possible, but divergent diagnoses cause prolonged recovery time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the diagnostic process from subjective human judgment to objective quantitative parameters. The system calculates blood oxygen concentration values and wound indices based on image data, and classifies wound parts into specific types (necrotic, slough, granulation, epithelial tissue). These standardized parameters ensure consistent diagnosis across different users and over time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a standardized diagnostic feedback mechanism where the processor automatically classifies wound parts and calculates healing stages based on established criteria. The system provides consistent feedback on wound status (inflammatory, proliferative, or remodeling stage) regardless of who operates the system, eliminating divergent diagnoses
3Reliability
If traditional wound monitoring is performed, then wound status can be tracked, but it requires extensive medical personnel involvement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a multi-functional system where a single device performs multiple diagnostic functions. The illumination device provides both visible and infrared light, and the image sensors capture both visual appearance and blood oxygen concentration information. The processor integrates these different data streams to provide comprehensive wound assessment, reducing the need for multiple separate monitoring tools and personnel
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 system enables efficient and consistent wound analysis, reducing the need for extensive medical inspections and providing accurate wound classification and healing stage assessment, thereby facilitating timely and appropriate treatment.
Implementation Method 1
The image sensor captures an infrared-light image, a red-light image and a visible-light image with respect to a wound
Implementation Method 2
The image sensor captures an infrared-light image, a red-light image and a visible-light image with respect to a wound
Implementation Method 3
The processor calculates a blood-oxygen-concentration image according to the red-light image and the infrared-light image
Data Source
AI summary
A wound analyzing system is provided. An illumination device provides visible light and infrared light. An image sensor captures an infrared-light image, a red-light image and a visible-light image about a wound. A processor performs an image segmentation algorithm on the visible-light image to obtain a wound part and a background part, and classifies the wound part into one of multiple types. The processor calculates a blood-oxygen-concentration image according to the red-light image and the infrared-light image, aligns the visible-light image and the blood-oxygen-concentration image, and calculates a wound index and a wound healing stage according to the blood oxygen concentration values and the type corresponding to the wound part.