CAT S60 smartphone as a portable wound care device in home care

The purpose of this work is to study the suitability of the CAT S60 smartphone with built-in thermal camera to be used in self and home care to detect the risk level of wound appearance in advance. The purpose was to clarify different conditions where thermal imaging might act as a resource in detecting changes in limb circulation before visual signs even occur. The purpose is to detect early incipient tissue damage in foot usually occur in diabetic patients. Thermal images were acquired from voluntary domesticated elderly people. Thermal pictures from limbs of 3 persons were studied in order to find thermal differences indicating possible changes in limb circulation. Noteworthy thermal differences between limbs were found in elderly people. A smartphone having built-in thermal camera enables to detect plantar and limb thermal differences with a sufficient accuracy. This may support home monitoring for elderly people and thus reduce foot ulcers and possible foot amputations due to earlier detection and identification of harmful changes in limb circulation. Earlier detection of circulatory insufficiency via thermal imaging makes possible for nurses to intervene and enable medical assistance

Seven years follow‐up of ballistocardiogaphy

This work serves as a method description, where ballistocardiography (BCG) and pulse waves were used to study longer term alterations of heart-vasculature system. BCG and pulse signals were recorded from one person in sitting position by using Electromechanical Film (EMFi) sensors during 7 years time interval. ECG, BCG, carotid pulse (CP) signal from the right side of the neck near the carotid artery and the left ankle pulse wave (in five recordings) were recorded from one person. Duration of the signal components according to R wave from the ECG, amplitudes and spectral components of the signals were studied. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) values were calculated in order to compare aortic blood pressure (BP) to values obtained with commercial Omron BP measurement device. The time domain properties of CP and BCG signals during seven years time remained fairly stable within the same person. Also when the signals were estimated visually in spectral domain from the seat BCG and especially from the CP, no major differences were found. Minor alterations in the frequency of the spectral spikes may be due to heart rate changes between measurements or due to slight changes in the arterial elasticity having an influence to the spectral traces. Obtained PWV values followed closely BP changes measured with Omron BP measurement device

Improving nursing methods by using thermal imaging: Observations by CAT S60 mobile phone

The purpose of this preliminary study was to examine, how thermal imaging could help in advancing nursing methods and offer some new usage targets of thermal imaging for the behoof of a patient. By using CAT S60 cellular phone with an inbuilt Flir thermal camera, thermal pictures were taken from voluntary subjects in order to find out if thermal imaging with CAT S60 phone could help in treatment of a patient. Thermal camera images were taken in order to find out temperature changes in whole body, limbs and extremities. By using thermal imaging in nursing the beginning of treatment could be hastened and the monitoring of the state of a patient would be more efficient thus improving the prognosis of a patient. The benefit of the method is, that it is non-invasive, cheap and easy to use (inside a cellular phone) thus being a clear advantage.  The results of different usage methods seen in thermal images suggest that thermal imaging with CAT S60 phone could be used to improve nursing methods and may also for its part to help in diagnosis. The present preliminary observations via thermal images showed, that the resolution of CAT S60 phone was sufficient to detect changes in human body temperature in home life. This may suggest the usage of the CAT S60 phone in home care services.The purpose of this preliminary study was to examine, how thermal imaging could help in advancing nursing methods and offer some new usage targets of thermal imaging for the behoof of a patient. By using CAT S60 cellular phone with an inbuilt Flir thermal camera, thermal pictures were taken from voluntary subjects in order to find out if thermal imaging with CAT S60 phone could help in treatment of a patient. Thermal camera images were taken in order to find out temperature changes in whole body, limbs and extremities. By using thermal imaging in nursing the beginning of treatment could be hastened and the monitoring of the state of a patient would be more efficient thus improving the prognosis of a patient. The benefit of the method is, that it is non-invasive, cheap and easy to use (inside a cellular phone) thus being a clear advantage.  The results of different usage methods seen in thermal images suggest that thermal imaging with CAT S60 phone could be used to improve nursing methods and may also for its part to help in diagnosis. The present preliminary observations via thermal images showed, that the resolution of CAT S60 phone was sufficient to detect changes in human body temperature in home life. This may suggest the usage of the CAT S60 phone in home care services

Thermal imaging in skin trauma evaluation: observations by CAT S60 mobile phone

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usability of a mobile phone with inbuilt thermal camera in wound imaging for medical purposes. Thermal imaging could help in evaluating wound healing and in assisting doctors in diagnose making. By using CAT S60 smart phone with an inbuilt Flir thermal camera, thermal pictures from skin wounds and lower limbs were taken from six people in order to find out if thermal imaging could help the treatment and diagnosis of a patient. Thermal images were taken in order to find and visualize temperature changes (being normally invisible) in skin damage areas including deep skin damages especially from limbs and extremities. By using thermal imaging the beginning of treatment could be hastened and the monitoring of the state of a patient would be more efficient thus improving the prognosis of a patient. The thermal pictures taken from skin damages suggest that thermal imaging with CAT S60 smart phone can be used to improve nursing methods and may also help in diagnosis. Non-invasive thermal imaging may be a valuable asset and for its part hasten the beginning of treatment. The resolution and properties of CAT S60 smart phone was sufficient to detect skin damage temperature changes. This may suggest the usage of the CAT S60 smart in hospital, emergency ward and in home care services.The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usability of a mobile phone with inbuilt thermal camera in wound imaging for medical purposes. Thermal imaging could help in evaluating wound healing and in assisting doctors in diagnose making. By using CAT S60 smart phone with an inbuilt Flir thermal camera, thermal pictures from skin wounds and lower limbs were taken from six people in order to find out if thermal imaging could help the treatment and diagnosis of a patient. Thermal images were taken in order to find and visualize temperature changes (being normally invisible) in skin damage areas including deep skin damages especially from limbs and extremities. By using thermal imaging the beginning of treatment could be hastened and the monitoring of the state of a patient would be more efficient thus improving the prognosis of a patient. The thermal pictures taken from skin damages suggest that thermal imaging with CAT S60 smart phone can be used to improve nursing methods and may also help in diagnosis. Non-invasive thermal imaging may be a valuable asset and for its part hasten the beginning of treatment. The resolution and properties of CAT S60 smart phone was sufficient to detect skin damage temperature changes. This may suggest the usage of the CAT S60 smart in hospital, emergency ward and in home care services

Comparison of local pulse wave velocity values acquired with EMFi sensor

The purpose of this work is to show the potential of Electromechanical Film (EMFi) sensor in local vascular elasticity studies via pulse wave velocity (PWV) obtained from limbs and radial arteries. ECG and pulse signals from the limbs were recorded from 48 working aged men in sitting position. Duration of the signal components (pulse transit time; PTT) from the foot point and from the peak of the ankle and radial pulse signals according to R wave of the ECG were studied. PWV parameters between left and right wrist and respectively between left and right ankle were compared with Bland-Altman (BA) plots and with Pearson correlation in order to study, whether foot point or peak point from the ankle and radial pulse give consistent information about vascular elasticity in the form of PWV. Results show that elastic information in the form of PWV is obtainable from the ankle and radial pulse signals having variation which depends from the detected site of the pulse signal. Little more variation was seen in the PWV and Pearson correlation values obtained from the foot point of the signal utilizing PTT with a minimum method. As the differences between the obtained results were relatively small, both locations are at least suitable in PWV determination giving consistent information about vascular elasticity. The variation in the form of the pulse signal due to local elasticity changes may challenge accurate point detection in PWV studies

CAT S60 smartphone as a portable wound care device in home care

The purpose of this work is to study the suitability of the CAT S60 smartphone with built-in thermal camera to be used in self and home care to detect the risk level of wound appearance in advance. The purpose was to clarify different conditions where thermal imaging might act as a resource in detecting changes in limb circulation before visual signs even occur. The purpose is to detect early incipient tissue damage in foot usually occur in diabetic patients. Thermal images were acquired from voluntary domesticated elderly people. Thermal pictures from limbs of 3 persons were studied in order to find thermal differences indicating possible changes in limb circulation.Noteworthy thermal differences between limbs were found in elderly people. A smartphone having built-in thermal camera enables to detect plantar and limb thermal differences with a sufficient accuracy. This may support home monitoring for elderly people and thus reduce foot ulcers and possible foot amputations due to earlier detection and identification of harmful changes in limb circulation. Earlier detection of circulatory insufficiency via thermal imaging makes possible for nurses to intervene and enable medical assistance.publishedVersionPeer reviewe

Carotid and radial pulse feature analysis with EMFi sensor

The purpose of this work is to show the potential of Electromechanical Film (EMFi) sensor in vascular elasticity studies when pulse wave features from carotid pulse (CP) and radial pulse are studied. ECG, seat ballistocardiogram (BCG) and pulse signals from the limbs and CP were recorded from 48 working aged men in sitting position. Duration and amplitudes of the signal components from the ballistic seat signal, CP and radial pulse according to R wave of the ECG were studied. Several calculated parameters used to obtain vasculature stiffness information were compared with Bland-Altman (BA) plots and with Pearson correlation in order to study, whether CP and radial pulse give consistent information about vascular elasticity. Results from the BA plots and Pearson correlation show that elastic information obtained from the CP and radial pulse signals clearly differ from each other. The elasticity changes along the arterial tree seen in local pulse signals reflect also to the form of the seat BCG signal

Age-related circulatory responses to whole body cooling: observations by ballistocardiographic EMFi sensors

The purpose was to study age related changes in circulatory system via Ballistocardiography (BCG) by utilizing Electromechanical Film (EMFi) sensors by gradually changing the ambient temperature from a thermoneutral area to cold direction. ECG and BCG were recorded from a young person (23 years) and from an older person (78 years), both males. During the tests, brachium blood pressure (BP) and pulse signals were recorded from neck and ankle (with EMFi sensor strips). Thermal camera images were taken in order to find out temperature changes in whole body and limbs. Temporal durations and amplitudes of seat BCG:s components (systolic and diastolic) as well as from pulse signals from neck and ankle were calculated. Aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) was obtained by utilizing the time between ECG’s R wave and maximum value of the ankle pulse signal. In both persons, the ankle pulse amplitude decreased when propagating to cold direction and increased in young person when returning to warmer ambient temperature. With young and old BCG:s systolic and diastolic temporal complexes remained stable, but systolic amplitudes increased in the older person (AHI 1.02 – 2.87, AIJ 0.7 – 2.66) as well as diastolic amplitudes (old; AKL 0.47 – 2.37). In the older person, PWV increased when moving to colder side. BP increased with a young person (from 95/64 to 132/75 mmHg), and with older person (from 125/68 to 176/101 mmHg) having a prominent rise in diastolic values during the cooling. The neck pulse wave amplitude AOP rise was modest with the younger person and had variation with the older person. Older person had also more intensive shivering compared to younger one. With the older person, the limbs stayed cold in thermal images when returning from cold to thermoneutral area. The present preliminary observations indicated clear age-related differences in the circulatory response to a mild whole-body thermal challenge

Age‐related circulatory responses to whole body cooling: observations by heart rate variability

The purpose was to study potential age ‐ related changes in the circulatory system via heart rate variability (HRV) by gradually lowering ambient temperature (0.2°C/min) from thermoneutral (32 C°) towards cold (18 C°). ECG was recorded from a young (31 years) and from an older subject (78 years), both males. During the tests, brachium blood pressure (BP) was recorded. During the cooling, BP increased in both subjects (young from 95/69 to 132/75 mmHg, old from 125/68 to 176/101 mmHg), the latter exhibiting a prominent rise in diastolic values after cooling. HRV parameters increased in both subjects during the cold exposure being modest in the younger subject as compared to the older one. Also, recovery from the cold in terms of HRV was faster in the younger subject. The present preliminary observations indicate that older age is coupled with altered HRV response to a mild whole‐body skin cooling