Wound Assessment Using Calibration Patch for Mobile Imaging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems for assessing wounds, particularly diabetic foot ulcers, are not affordable for individual patients, lack mobility support, and do not facilitate joint patient-doctor collaboration, with limitations in capturing images at varying angles and lighting conditions, and require manual tracing of wound boundaries.

Innovation Solution

A handheld mobile device-based system that captures wound images, automatically corrects for angle and lighting variations using a calibration patch, and performs color segmentation to evaluate healing conditions, enabling easy monitoring and physician review.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a specialized camera system is used to capture wound images and calculate wound area, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewound area measurementVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a calibration patch that creates a reference copy of known dimensions in the image. This calibration patch serves as a surrogate for complex measurement equipment, allowing the system to calculate actual wound dimensions by comparing the wound image against the known calibration pattern, thereby achieving precise measurements without specialized cameras

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The system transforms the measurement problem from requiring absolute calibration to relative comparison. By introducing a calibration patch with known parameters into the image, the system can derive scaling factors and perspective correction parameters automatically, converting a complex absolute measurement task into a simpler relative comparison task

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If manual tracing of wound boundaries is performed, then measurement precision can be achieved, but time consumption and operational complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewound boundary accuracyVSAvoidtime for boundary tracing

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements automatic wound boundary detection algorithms that perform the tracing task without human intervention. The calibration patch provides reference points that enable the algorithm to automatically identify and trace wound boundaries, replacing manual tracing with self-executing computational processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/manual process of boundary tracing with automated image processing algorithms. Computer vision techniques analyze the captured images, use the calibration patch for geometric correction, and automatically delineate wound boundaries, substituting human manual operation with automated computational methods

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If images are captured at varying angles and lighting conditions, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision and color accuracy deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage capture flexibilityVSAvoidwound area and color accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The calibration patch acts as an intermediary element between the light source/camera system and the wound being measured. It provides known reference patterns that allow the system to calculate and correct for perspective distortion, lighting variations, and color temperature effects, thereby maintaining measurement accuracy despite operational flexibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system preemptively corrects for potential measurement errors by incorporating the calibration patch before wound assessment. This preliminary correction step compensates for angle and lighting issues before they can affect the wound measurement, preventing accuracy degradation rather than attempting to fix it afterward

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

4Measurement precision

If costly specialized equipment is used for wound assessment, then measurement precision is improved, but affordability and accessibility worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewound assessment accuracyVSAvoidcost and accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive, durable specialized medical equipment with inexpensive, disposable-like components. The calibration patch is a simple, low-cost element that can be printed or attached temporarily, eliminating the need for costly specialized cameras and measurement devices while maintaining assessment accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses a universal calibration patch that can work with standard digital cameras and smartphones, making the precise wound measurement capability accessible across multiple platforms. This universal approach eliminates the need for proprietary expensive equipment, allowing the same calibration method to serve various devices and settings

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10949965B2System and method for assessing wound

Publication Date: 2021.03.16 TRUSTEES OF THE VISSICARO FAMILY TRUST

AI summary

The wound assessing method and system provide a convenient, quantitative mechanism for diabetic foot ulcer assessment.