Device and method for quantifying edema

• US 20060030791A1
• Filed: 04/15/2005
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University Of Massachusetts, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
• Original Assignee: University Of Massachusetts
• Inventors: Dunn, Raymond M., Billiar, Kristen L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,147,428 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/587
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0053 by applying pressure, e.g. compression, indentation, palpation, grasping, gauging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/442 Evaluating skin mechanical properties, e.g. elasticity, hardness, texture, wrinkle assessment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4878 Evaluating oedema

Abstract

The preferred embodiments of the present invention are directed at a device that provides a reliable, accurate and quantifiable measure of a patient'"'"'s edema. The device improves on the current method of digital manipulation by evaluating the pitting phenomena in a user-independent manner. The output of the device allows a physician to categorize edema into at least ten different levels of severity. The systems of the present invention provides the ability to distinguish between tissues of varying viscosity.

Claims

1. A method of measuring edema comprising:

displacing a region of tissue of the patient to a displaced position; and

measuring a time over which the region of tissue returns from the displaced position.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a displacement member, a light source and a detector, the light source and detector determining a position of the member.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising measuring a time for return of the tissue to half the distance of the displaced position.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising providing a housing on which the member, light source and detector are mounted.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying a quantitative value indicative of a level of edema in the tissue.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a sensor to measure displacement of the displacement member.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising actuating displacement of a displacement member with an elecromechanical actuator.

8. An edema measurement device comprising:

a housing;

a displacement member attached to the housing that is actuated to displace tissue of a patient; and

a sensor that measures displacement of the displacemetn member.

9. The device of claim 8 further comprising a battery to provide power to the device.

10. The device of claim 8 wherein the sensor comprises an optical sensor.

11. The device of claim 8 further comprising an electromechanical actuator.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein the actuator comprises an LVDT.

13. The device of claim 8 further comprising a display on a processing circuit.

14. The device of claim 8 further comprising an actuator on the housing that controls device operation.

15. The device of claim 8 further comprising a programmable processor in the housing.