METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR IMAGING, DETECTING, AND MONITORING SURFICIAL AND SUBDERMAL INFLAMMATION

• US 20130162796A1
• Filed: 10/13/2011
• Published: 06/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents (University of Arizona)
• Original Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents (University of Arizona)
• Inventors: Bharara, Manish, Farrow, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US13/821,115
• Publication Number:
  US 20130162796A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/77
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0077 Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/015 By temperature mapping of body part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/445 Evaluating skin irritation or skin trauma, e.g. rash, eczema, wound, bed sore
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7425 Displaying combinations of multiple images regardless of image source, e.g. displaying a reference anatomical image with a live image geometric transforms for image registration G06T3/14; enhancement using image fusion G06T5/50; algorithms for registration of images G06T7/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10048 Infrared image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/20221 Image fusion; Image merging
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30088 Skin; Dermal
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0016 involving temporal comparison
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/11 for generating image signals from visible and infrared light wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/23 from thermal infrared radiation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/80 Camera processing pipelines; Components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/95 Computational photography systems, e.g. light-field imaging systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20

Abstract

Described are imaging apparatus and methods for imaging an area of interest, such as selected regions on a surface of a human or other living subject, by thermal and non-thermal means. Methods of using the apparatus to detect and monitor wounds in an area of interest on a subject are also described. The apparatus and methods have particular utility for detection and monitoring of ulcerations and general wound degradations, as well as of conditions that could result in formation of such lesions.

Claims

1. An imaging apparatus, comprising:

a first image sensor that produces, when directed toward an area of interest on a surface of a living subject, a thermal image of the area of interest;

a second image sensor that produces, when directed toward the area of interest on the surface of the living subject, a non-thermal image of the area of interest;

a display; and

a controller operably connected to the first image sensor, the second image sensor, and the display,

wherein the controller is programmed to

align respective images of the area of interest obtained by the first image sensor and by the second image sensor to produce an aligned image,

output the aligned image to the display, and

process the aligned image,

wherein processing the aligned image comprises at least one of

(a) determining and analyzing one or more thermal and spatial parameters of the area of interest in the aligned image;

(b) determining and integrating one or more thermal and spatial parameters of the area of interest into a model; and

(c) animating the aligned image in a time sequence with at least one previously-obtained aligned image of the area of interest.

2. The imaging apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a data-storage device coupled to the controller and configured to store the aligned image.

3. The imaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first image sensor comprises an infrared camera.

4. The imaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second image sensor comprises a visible-light camera.

5. The imaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further programmed to perform at least two of (a), (b), and (c).

6. The imaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further programmed to perform (a), (b), and (c).

7. The imaging apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a proximity sensor coupled to the controller, the proximity sensor being configured to determine a distance from the area of interest to at least one of the first or second image sensors.

8. The imaging apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a user interface coupled to the controller, the user interface allowing a user of the apparatus to change at least one operational parameter of the imaging apparatus.

9. The imaging apparatus of claim 8, wherein the user interface comprises, in association with the display, a touch screen.

10. The imaging apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a data-output device coupled to the controller, the data-output device outputting data from the apparatus for reception and use by a separate data processor.

11. The imaging apparatus of claim 10, wherein the data-output device comprises at least one of a wireless interne transmitter, a mobile phone transmitter, and a port configured to receive a separate data-storage device.

12. The imaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein (a) comprises one or more of determining temperature of the area of interest, determining temperature of a region of the area of interest, and determining one or more spatial dimensions of the region of the area of interest.

13. The imaging apparatus of claim 12, wherein (a) further comprises comparing the one or more determined parameters to corresponding determined thermal and spatial parameters in other aligned images of the area of interest in the subject.

14. The imaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein (a) further comprises calculating a wound inflammatory index for the area of interest.

15. The imaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein (b) further comprises generating at least one of a diabetic ulcer model, a pressure ulcer model, and a venous ulcer model.

16. The imaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein (b) further comprises generating a model of wound progression in a human subject or non-human subject.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further programmed to output the aligned image to a computer.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the computer is external to the apparatus.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the external computer performs at least one of:

determining and analyzing at least one thermal and spatial parameter of the area of interest in the aligned image;

determining and integrating at least one thermal and spatial parameter of the area of interest into a model; and

animating the aligned image in a time sequence with previously-stored aligned images of the area of interest of the subject.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a housing containing the first image sensor, the second image sensor, the display, and the controller.

21. An imaging apparatus, comprising:

means for producing thermal images of an area of interest on a surface of a living subject;

means for producing non-thermal images of the area of interest;

means for aligning the thermal images with respective non-thermal images;

means for displaying the images;

controller means for

aligning the thermal and non-thermal images to produce corresponding aligned images,

outputting the aligned images to the display means,

storing the aligned images, and

processing the aligned images, wherein

said controller means for processing the aligned images comprises at least one of

means for determining and analyzing one or more thermal and spatial parameters of the area of interest in the aligned images,

means for determining and integrating one or more thermal and spatial parameters of the area of interest into a model, and

means for animating the aligned images in a time sequence with other aligned images from the subject.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising means for detecting proximity of the area of interest from the apparatus.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising user-interface means for controlling at least one operational parameter of the apparatus.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising data-output means for outputting data to a computer.

25. A method for imaging an area of interest on a surface of a living subject, comprising:

obtaining a thermal image of the area of interest,

obtaining a non-thermal image of the area of interest,

aligning the thermal and non-thermal images to produce corresponding aligned images, and

processing the images by at least one of

(a) determining and analyzing one or more thermal and spatial parameters of the area of interest in the aligned images;

(b) determining and integrating one or more thermal and spatial parameters of the area of interest into a model; and

(c) animating the aligned image in a time sequence with other aligned images from the subject.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein processing the images comprises at least two of (a), (b), and (c).

27. The method of claim 26, wherein processing the images comprises all three of (a), (b), and (c).

28. The method of claim 25, further comprising displaying one or more of the images.

29. The method of claim 25, further comprising, prior to obtaining a thermal image, determining a distance to the area of interest.

30. The method of claim 25, further comprising transferring at least one of the images to an external computer or server.