Abstract
Chronic wounds
are on the rise due to aging population, diabetes, obesity, and late effects of
radiation therapy. Among the major chronic wounds are lower extremity ulcers
(diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) and venous leg ulcers (VLUs)), apart from pressure
and arterial ulcers. Initial management of lower extremity ulcers begins with
effective clinical assessment of the wound, diagnostic imaging using duplex
ultrasound (to assess vascularity, or extent of blood flow), followed by basic
and/or advanced treatments (or therapies) for enhancing effective and rapid
wound healing. Healing rate is assessed by wound size measurement and visual
assessment for surface epithelization. If treatment extends beyond 4 weeks,
re-evaluation of wound and advanced treatment options are considered. While
currently available diagnostic tools help direct the treatment approach and
assess vascularity (i.e., oxygen-rich blood flow), there is no prognostic
imaging tool in the clinic to assess improvement in blood oxygenation and
simultaneously take spatial measurements of a target wound.FIU researchers
have developed systems and methods for scanning near infrared (NIR) and visible
light images and creating co-registered images. The system can be used to
measure a target issue or wound, detect hemodynamic signals, and combine the
visible light image and a hemodynamic image to create a single image. The
technology allows for scanning near infrared (NIR) and visible light images of
targeted wounds through non-invasive, non-contact, prognostic imaging tools
that provide mapping changes in blood oxygenation of the wound region and
obtaining wound size measurements and/or measurements of chosen regions of
interest. The process is non-contact with real-time NIR imaging of the entire
wound region in less than or equal to one second. It also allows generating a map
of blood oxygenation changes in small and large tissues or wounds to provide
separate healing indicators in a single co-registered image.
Benefit
· Non-invasive, real-time NIR imaging in less than or one second. · Portable and hand-held. · Obtain wound size measurements through automated wound boundary demarcation, and map blood oxygenation changes in small and large tissues or wounds.
Market Application
Wound management
Brochure
