Method of assessing localized shape and temperature of the human body
AssigneeUniversity of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
InventorsRaphael Hirsch, James Osborn, Chian Kent Kwoh, Louis J. Denes, Daniel Huber
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Abstract
A method of objectively quantifying assessments of joints having arthritis for purposes of assessment, diagnosis and treatment. The objective measurements utilize known imaging modalities including 3D scanning, thermal imaging, visible and near-infrared imaging and two-dimensional imaging to quantify swelling, heat distribution, erythema, and range or motion. The objective measurements can be combined in various ways to assess the extent of the disease and can be used to adjust treatment protocols.
Claims22
A method of screening for skin abnormalities comprising the steps of:
- imaging a skin lesion with a three dimensional scanner from one or more angles to create one or more images;
- combining said images to create a first three dimensional surface model of said lesion;
- repeating the imaging and combining process at a later time to create a second three dimensional surface model of said lesion;
- comparing said first and said second three dimensional models to determine if said lesion exhibits a change in size or shape;
- imaging said skin lesion with a near-infrared imager;
- comparing the reflectance of said skin lesion with a reference near-infrared image of said skin lesion;
- determining the difference in reflectance between said skin lesion and said reference image at near-infrared wavelengths;
- combining said near-infrared image with said second three dimensional surface model;
- determining any differences in shape between said second three dimensional surface model and said reference model;
- and
- correlating said differences in reflectance with said differences in shape.
A method of assessing the health of a body part comprising the steps of:
- imaging said body part with a three dimensional scanner from one or more angles;
- combining said images to create a three dimensional surface model;
- comparing said three-dimensional surface model to a reference model;
- determining any differences in shape between said three-dimensional surface model and said reference model;
- correlating said differences in reflectance with said differences in shape;
- imaging said body part with a near-infrared imager;
- comparing the reflectance of said body part with a reference near-infrared image of said body part;
- determining the difference in reflectance between said body part and said reference image at near-infrared wavelengths;
- and
- combining said near-infrared image with said three dimensional surface model.
A method of assessing the health of a body part comprising the steps of:
- imaging said body part with a thermal imager to obtain a thermal image;
- determining the distribution of temperatures across said body part;
- imaging said body part with a near-infrared imager to obtain a near-infrared image;
- comparing the reflectance of said body part with a reference near-infrared image of said body part;
- determining the difference in reflectance between said body part and said reference image at near-infrared wavelengths;
- combining said near-infrared image with said thermal image;
- and
- rendering a visual display of said combined near-infrared image and said thermal image, said rendered image having said differences in reflectance highlighted and further having different temperatures highlighted differently.
A method of assessing the health of a body part comprising the steps of:
- imaging said body part with a near-infrared imager;
- comparing the reflectance of said body part with a reference near-infrared image of said body part;
- determining the difference in reflectance between said body part and said reference image at near-infrared wavelengths;
- rendering a visual display of said near-infrared image having said differences in reflectance highlighted;
- imaging said body part with a visual imager as said body part passes through a range of motion to obtain a visual image based on range of motion;
- and
- combining said visual images based on range of motion with said near infrared image.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.