Applying 3D Vision and Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) to Wound Care

Abstract

Best practice in wound care requires regular assessment of the wound to determine the progress of healing. The accuracy of this assessment is essential as clinicians determine treatment based on this information. Measurement of a wound’s dimensions and coloration are both critical aspects of this assessment. A reduction in wound size and healthy coloration are good indications of healing. The current standard of care for wound measurement involves using a ruler or measuring tape to measure the wound’s length, width, and depth at their greatest point. This manual method of measuring has limitations as it does not provide an accurate assessment of the surface area of the wound, and there is room for error between those performing the assessment. Traditional methods also inconvenience the patient with travel to a medical facility and consume significant hospital resources in the form of personnel and space. A system for remote monitoring of wounds by healthcare professionals via internet-enabled mobile devices equipped with stereoscopic cameras, has potential uses in the home, home healthcare, remote locations, extended care facilities and more. These mobile devices communicate with a web application to centralize patient imagery and analysis. Healthcare professionals will be able to remotely access the scaled images for examination, annotation, and historical comparison. With this information they can advise the patient without repeated office visits. Analysis such as color profiling in the assessment of the wound can guide treatment that could lead to better patient outcomes and satisfaction with their care. This project refines, extends, and integrates a prototype system that was developed by a senior capstone project team during the 2015-2016 academic year, with the primary goals of assisting healthcare professionals by minimizing opportunity for user error and increasing the effectiveness and fidelity of analysis. The effectiveness of stereoscopic 3D vision technology when applied to wound assessment will also undergo the beginning stages of user study. Additional features will include stereoscopic 3D vision display of wound imagery, color analysis, and the capability to upload stereoscopic images to the server directly from a newly developed mobile application