SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PREVENTION OF DIABETIC FOOT ULCERS

• US 20140121479A1
• Filed: 11/01/2013
• Published: 05/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quaerimus Medical Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Quaerimus, Inc.
• Inventors: O'CONNOR, RICHARD W., BALDWIN, ALAN D., KU, CHWEN-YUAN, MIHAYLOV, JIVKO M., GOODMAN, DAVID E., LLOYD, LESTER J., HEANUE, JOSEPH A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,901,298 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/306
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0077 Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/447 specially adapted for aiding the prevention of ulcer or pressure sore development, i.e. before the ulcer or sore has developed
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6829 Foot or ankle

Abstract

The present invention pertains to a device and method for imaging of a human foot including a transmissive sheet with an upper surface configured to accommodate a sole of the foot, a light source positioned below the sheet for emitting light toward the sheet, and an optical path controller in the sheet or coupled to the sheet for altering a path of the light causing internal reflection of the light toward a predetermined region of the foot. The image can be analyzed for a predetermined characteristic associated with a human patient, and determination made whether the characteristic in the image matches the patient. Brightness in the image can be analyzed for tissue moisture information.

Claims

1. A device for imaging of a human foot comprising:

a transmissive sheet with an upper surface configured to accommodate a sole of said human foot;

a first light source positioned below said transmissive sheet for emitting light toward said transmissive sheet; and

a first optical path controller in said transmissive sheet for altering a path of said light causing internal reflection of said light toward a first predetermined region of said human foot.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said optical path controller comprises an indentation in said transmissive sheet.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein surfaces of said indentation are scattering.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein surfaces of said indentation are polished.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said optical path controller comprises a hole through said transmissive sheet parallel to said upper surface.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said optical path controller comprises sub-surface laser engraved microfeatures within said transmissive sheet.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said first predetermined region is a metatarsal region of said human foot.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein said first predetermined region is an instep region of said human foot.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein said first predetermined region is a heel region of said human foot.

10. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a second light source positioned below said transmissive sheet for emitting second light toward said transmissive sheet; and

a second optical path controller in said transmissive sheet for altering a path of said second light causing internal reflection of said second light toward a second predetermined region of said human foot.

11. A device for imaging of a human foot comprising:

a transmissive sheet with an upper surface configured to accommodate a sole of said human foot;

a first light source positioned below said transmissive sheet for emitting light toward said transmissive sheet; and

a first optical path controller optically coupled to said transmissive sheet for altering a path of said light causing internal reflection of said light toward a first predetermined region of said human foot.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein said first optical path controller comprises a prism adhered to a lower surface of said transmissive sheet.

13. The device of claim 11 wherein said first optical path controller comprises a scattering coating on a predetermined region of a lower surface of said transmissive sheet.

14. The device of claim 11 wherein said first optical path controller comprises a scattering coating on a predetermined region of said upper surface of said transmissive sheet.

15. A method of imaging a human foot comprising:

emitting light into a transmissive sheet;

internally reflecting said light;

capturing an image of a sole of said human foot positioned on said transmissive sheet by collecting said light on an image sensor below said sheet;

analyzing said image for a predetermined characteristic associated with a human patient; and

determining whether said predetermined characteristic matches said human patient.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said predetermined characteristic is a metric of a contact region of said human foot with said transmissive sheet.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein said predetermined characteristic is a characteristic of a skin print of said sole.

18. A method of imaging a human foot comprising:

emitting light into a transmissive sheet;

internally reflecting said light;

capturing an image of a sole of said human foot positioned on said transmissive sheet by collecting said light on an image sensor below said sheet; and

analyzing brightness in said image for tissue moisture information.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising assessing a potential foot wound based on said tissue moisture information.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising associating high brightness with a potential wet wound.