Image-analysis for assessing heart failure

A method for assessing heart failure, comprising:

• processing, using a processor, sensor data for a patient obtained from a sensor to detect a biological condition, wherein the biological condition is indicative of psychophysiological health and cardiac health;
• receiving, using the processor, image data in response to detecting the biological condition from the sensor data;
• detecting, using the processor, a visual characteristic from the image data, wherein the visual characteristic is indicative of heart health;
• and
• in response to detecting the visual characteristic, providing, using the processor, an indication that the patient is experiencing a worsening of heart failure.

A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program code stored thereon for assessing heart failure, the program code executable by a processor to perform operations comprising:

• processing sensor data for a patient obtained from a sensor to detect a biological condition, wherein the biological condition is indicative of psychophysiological health and cardiac health;
• receiving image data in response to detecting the biological condition from the sensor data;
• detecting a visual characteristic from the image data, wherein the visual characteristic is indicative of heart health;
• and
• in response to detecting the visual characteristic, providing an indication that the patient is experiencing a worsening of heart failure.

An apparatus for assessing heart failure, comprising:

• an image sensor configured to capture image data;
• a memory configured to store the image data;
• and
• a processor coupled to the image sensor and the memory, wherein the processor is configured to:
• generate a morphable model based upon image data for a selected part of a patient's body;
• receive a user specified deformation to the morphable model, wherein deformation approximates an amount of pitting experienced by the patient for the selected part of the patient's body;
• and
• determine severity of edema experienced by the patient based upon the deformation to the morphable model.