Abstract
The invention relates to a method for assisting a user in capturing a digital image of a transparent wound dressing preferably for monitoring the healing process of a wound dressed with and visible through the transparent wound dressing, to a method for assisting a user in reviewing digital images of a transparent wound dressing, and to corresponding computer programs and computer readable media. Also, a system for assisting a first user in capturing a digital image of a transparent wound dressing and for assisting a second user in reviewing digital images of a transparent wound dressing is described. In order to enhance both user friendliness and reliability of the digital image acquisition, it is proposed to superimpose an overlay image with visual indications on the digital images currently obtained.
Claims
1) A method for assisting a user in capturing a digital image of a transparent wound dressing, preferably for monitoring the healing process of a wound dressed with and visible through the transparent wound dressing, comprising at least the following steps: obtaining, by means of an imaging device at least one digital image of the transparent wound dressing, and displaying, by means of a user interface the obtained at least one digital image of the transparent wound dressing; superimposing an overlay image on the at least one digital image of the transparent wound dressing displayed by the user interface; and saving at least one digital image of the transparent wound dressing.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least two digital images of the transparent wound dressing are obtained by means of the imaging device, wherein the at least two digital images of the transparent wound dressing are displayed, by means of the user interface, as a live feed, and wherein the overlay image is superimposed on the live feed displayed by the user interface.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the overlay image comprises at least one visual indication on the appearance the transparent wound dressing should, at least in part, exhibit on the at least one digital image of the transparent wound dressing to be saved.
4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the at least one visual indication has an aspect ratio that is the same or substantially the same as an aspect ratio of the transparent wound dressing of which a digital image should be saved.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one digital image of the transparent wound dressing is saved in association with a chronological indicator.
6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising, before superimposing the overlay image on the at least one digital image of the transparent wound dressing displayed by the user interface, checking if at least one digital image of the transparent wound dressing has been saved in association with a past chronological indicator; if yes, using one of the at least one digital images of the transparent wound dressing saved in association with a past chronological indicator; and if not, retrieving and using information on the appearance the transparent wound dressing should, at least in parts, exhibit on the at least one digital image to be saved for obtaining the overlay image.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein saving at least one digital image of the transparent wound dressing is automatically triggered as a consequence of the result of a comparison between characteristics of at least one of the at least one digital image obtained by the imaging device and characteristics of the overlay image.
8. The method according to claim 1, wherein saving at least one digital image of the transparent wound dressing is automatically triggered after elapse of a predetermined time duration.
9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: outputting a first signal when the result of a comparison between characteristics of at least one of the digital images obtained by the imaging device and characteristics of the overlay image falls within a predetermined range for a degree of similarity; and/or outputting a second signal when the result of the comparison between characteristics of at least one of the at least one digital image obtained by the imaging device and characteristics of the overlay image falls outside the predetermined range for a degree of similarity.
10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: automatically adapting the settings of the imaging device based on the result of a comparison between characteristics of at least one of the at least one digital images obtained by the imaging device and characteristics of the overlay image.
11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: obtaining identification information allocated to a patient wearing the transparent wound dressing and/or to the transparent wound dressing; and saving the at least one digital image of the transparent wound dressing in association with the obtained identification information.
12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: obtaining wound information on a wound dressed with the transparent wound dressing; and saving the at least one digital image of the transparent wound dressing in association with at least one piece of the obtained wound information.
13. A computer program comprising instructions, which, when executed by an apparatus, causes the apparatus to perform the method of claim 1.
14. A computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing the method of claim 1.
15. A method for assisting a user in reviewing digital images of a transparent wound dressing comprising at least the following steps: obtaining at least two digital images of the transparent wound dressing captured according to the method of claim 1, wherein each digital image of the transparent wound dressing is associated with a respective chronological indicator; providing a slider wherein the slider can adopt as many positions as digital images of the transparent wound dressing have been obtained, and wherein one position of the slider is assigned to one chronological indicator of the obtained at least two digital images of the transparent wound dressing; and displaying the one digital image of the at least two digital images of the transparent wound dressing whose chronological indicator is assigned to the current position of the slider.
16. A computer program comprising instructions, which, when executed by an apparatus, causes the apparatus to perform the method of claim 15.
17. a computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing the method of claim 15.
18. A system for assisting a first user in capturing a digital image of a transparent wound dressing and for assisting a second user in reviewing digital images of a transparent wound dressing comprising at least the following: a first mobile device having a computer readable medium, an imaging device, and a user interface, the computer readable medium including program instructions stored thereon for performing a method for assisting a user in capturing a digital image of a transparent wound dressing, preferably for monitoring the healing process of a wound dressed with and visible through the transparent wound dressing, the method including at least the following steps: obtaining, by means of an imaging device, at least one digital image of the transparent wound dressing, and displaying, by means of a user interface, the obtained at least one digital image of the transparent wound dressing; superimposing an overlay image on the at least one digital image of the transparent wound dressing displayed by the user interface; and saving at least one digital image of the transparent wound dressing; a second device having a computer readable medium according to claim 17 and a user interface; and a server adapted for obtaining from the first mobile device at least one digital image (14, of a transparent wound dressing captured by the first mobile device, for storing the obtained at least one digital image of a transparent wound dressing captured by the first mobile device, and for transmitting the stored at least one digital image of a transparent wound dressing captured by the first mobile device to the second device.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0076] FIG. 1 shows a flowchart of a method for assisting a user in capturing a digital image of a transparent wound dressing;
[0077] FIG. 2 shows a computer readable medium performing a first step of the method for assisting a user in capturing a digital image of a transparent wound dressing;
[0078] FIG. 3 shows the computer readable medium of FIG. 2 performing a further step of the method for assisting a user in capturing a digital image of a transparent wound dressing;
[0079] FIG. 4 shows the computer readable medium of FIG. 2 performing a further step of the method for assisting a user in capturing a digital image of a transparent wound dressing;
[0080] FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of a method for assisting a user in capturing a digital image of a transparent wound dressing according to a second embodiment;
[0081] FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of a method for assisting a user in capturing a digital image of a transparent wound dressing according to a third embodiment;
[0082] FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of a method for assisting a user in capturing a digital image of a transparent wound dressing according to a fourth embodiment;
[0083] FIG. 8 shows a further computer readable medium performing a step of a method for assisting a user in capturing a digital image of a transparent wound dressing according to the fourth embodiment;
[0084] FIG. 9 shows flowchart of a method for assisting a user in capturing a digital image of a transparent wound dressing according to a fifth embodiment;
[0085] FIG. 10 shows flowchart of a method for assisting a user in capturing a digital image of a transparent wound dressing according to a sixth embodiment;
[0086] FIG. 11 shows flowchart of a method for assisting a user in capturing a digital image of a transparent wound dressing according to a seventh embodiment;
[0087] FIG. 12 shows a computer readable medium performing a step of a method for assisting a user in reviewing digital images of a transparent wound dressing; and
[0088] FIG. 13 shows a system for assisting a first user in capturing a digital image of a transparent wound dressing and for assisting a second user in reviewing digital images of a transparent wound dressing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0089] With reference to FIG. 1, three steps A, B and C of a method for assisting a user in capturing a digital image of a transparent wound dressing are represented. In step A, at least one digital image of a transparent wound dressing are obtained by means of an imaging device and displayed by means of a user interface. At step B, an image representing schematically the specific type of the transparent wound dressing is superimposed as an overlay image on the digital image via the display. In other words, the digital image obtained by means of the imaging device and the overlay image are displayed together via the user interface. Subsequently, the digital image is saved at step C.
[0090] Turning to FIG. 2, a wound 2, a transparent wound dressing 4 worn by the wounded patient 6 and a smartphone 8 with an imaging device (not shown due to the perspective of the represented view) and a user interface 10 including a display 12 are shown. The smartphone 8 is performing step A of the method of FIG. 1. Accordingly, the imaging device acquires a digital image 14 of the wound 2 and of the transparent wound dressing 4 and the user interface 10 displays the acquired digital image 14.
[0091] In FIG. 3, the user interface 10 of the smartphone 8 displays the acquired digital image 14 and an overlay image 16 superimposed on the digital image 14, according to method step B of the method represented in FIG. 1. The overlay image 16 is transparent with the exception of a schematic representation of curved distal and proximal ends 18a, 18b of a transparent wound dressing 4, thereby indicating the desired size and position the transparent wound dressing 4 should exhibit on a digital image 14 to be saved. In the present case, the overlay image 16 has been created by retrieving a basic image with a basic schematic representation of curved distal and proximal ends 18a, 18b of a transparent wound dressing 4 from a data bank, retrieving the information on the size of the wound dressing 4, processing both the retrieved basic image and the size information for producing the overlay image 16 with the schematic representation of curved distal and proximal ends 18a, 18b of a transparent wound dressing 4, wherein the aspect ratio of the schematic representation is adapted to the retrieved size information.
[0092] FIG. 4 shows the smartphone 8 of the precedent figure, wherein the acquisition condition for acquiring a digital image 14 by means of the imaging device are adjusted to the indication given by the overlay image 16. More specifically, the distance 20 between the imaging device of the smartphone 8 and the transparent wound dressing 4 has been reduced so as to let the transparent wound dressing 4 appear larger on the display 12.
[0093] Now turning to FIG. 5, which shows a second embodiment of the method for assisting a user in capturing a digital image of a transparent wound dressing, three steps marked A, B and C are represented. Step A and B are the same as steps A and B in FIG. 1. At step C, the digital image obtained by means of the imaging device in step A is saved together with a chronological indicator. Here the chronological indicator is a time stamp outputted by a clock that records the time at which the digital image has been acquired by the imaging device.
[0094] The flowchart of FIG. 6 exhibits several steps of a method for assisting a user in capturing a digital image of a transparent wound dressing according to a third embodiment. The method begins with the same step A as the method in FIG. 1. Then, in step D, a checking if at least one digital image of the transparent wound dressing has been saved in association with a past chronological indicator is performed. Depending on the result, step E or B is started.
[0095] If at least one digital image of the transparent wound dressing has been saved in association with a past chronological indicator, at least one theses digital images or a combination thereof is used for creating an overlay image in step B. Here the overlay image is created by duplicating a digital image with the newest chronological indicator, adjusting its settings for being displayed as semi-transparent via the user interface and saving the modified duplicate as overlay image.
[0096] If no digital image of the transparent wound dressing has been saved in association with a past chronological indicator, information on the appearance that the transparent wound dressing should, at least in parts, exhibit on the at least one digital image to be saved are retrieved in step E. To do this, a question can be displayed to the user via the user interface and a user input can be obtained, containing information on the type of the transparent wound dressing. Then a prepared overlay image containing a schematic representation of the transparent wound dressing as displayed in step B of FIG. 1 is retrieved from a data bank accordingly to the information contained in the obtained user input. Alternatively, the type of the transparent wound dressing can be recognized in an automated manner. In subsequent step B, the overlay image is superimposed on the digital image obtained in step A. In step C, the digital image is saved together with a corresponding chronological indicator.
[0097] FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of a method for assisting a user in capturing a digital image of a transparent wound dressing according to a fourth embodiment, wherein after obtaining of at least two digital images of the transparent wound dressing by means of an imaging device, these are displayed as a live feed by means of a user interface (step A). Subsequently in step B, an overlay image created on the basis of a previously obtained digital image of the transparent wound dressing and saved with a past chronological indicator is superimposed on the live feed. In step F, the digital images of the live feed are compared, respectively, with the overlay image. More specifically, the size and position of the transparent wound dressing of each digital image of the live feed is compared with the size and position of the transparent wound dressing of the overlay image. In step C, one digital image, for which the size and position of the transparent wound dressing correspond to the size and position of the transparent wound dressing of the overlay image is saved together with a chronological indicator.
[0098] FIG. 8 shows a smartphone 22 with a user interface 24 and an imaging device (not shown due to the perspective of the represented view). The user interface 24 includes a display 26 that displays a live feed 28 of digital images 2 of a wound dressing obtained by means of the imaging device and a superimposed overlay image 30. The overlay image 30 is a duplicate of a previously saved digital image with a past chronological indicator, which characteristics have been adjusted for being displayed as semi-transparent.
[0099] Referring to FIG. 9, which shows a flowchart of a method for assisting a user in capturing a digital image of a transparent wound dressing according to a fifth embodiment, steps A, B and C are the same as steps A, B and C of FIG. 1. After step B and before step C, step G is performed, wherein a predetermined time duration is started, and at the end of which time duration step C of saving the digital image is triggered.
[0100] The flowchart of FIG. 10 showing a sixth embodiment of the method exhibits a method step A.sub.0 performed previous to step A. In step A.sub.0, identification information allocated to a patient wearing the transparent wound dressing and/or to the transparent wound dressing are obtained, e.g., as user input while registering for the first time in a corresponding digital application and saved in a memory. At step C following step B of superimposing an overlay image on at least one digital image, the digital image is saved together with both a chronological indicator and at least one piece of the identification information obtained in step A.sub.0.
[0101] The seventh embodiment of the method as shown in FIG. 11 includes the method steps A, B and C as described for FIG. 1 and a subsequent step H. Step H corresponds to obtaining wound information, here as a user input including information on the appearance of the wound dressed with the wound dressing and the temperature of the wound dressed with the wound dressing, and saving it together with the digital image.
[0102] In FIG. 12, a computer readable medium 32 under the form of a smartphone 34 with a display 36 is shown while performing a step of a method for assisting a user 38 in reviewing digital images 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d, 40e of a transparent wound dressing. The display 36 displays a slider 42 adapted for adopting several slider positions 44a, 44b, 44c, 44d, 44e when moved from right to left or from left to right, and digital images 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d, 40e of the transparent wound dressing. The slider 42 is a continuous slider. This means that the slider 42 moves continuously from left to right when the user's thumb is on the slider 42. When the user lets go of the slider 42, the slider 42 snaps to the next possible discrete position that is assigned to specific picture, e.g. from a position intermediate between the first position 44a and the position 44b, it will snap to the next one 44b. In the displayed embodiment, the digital images 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d, 40e are displayed as a carousel 46 (showing the present picture in the centre and adjacent images next to it on the left and right side), wherein the digital image 40b in the front position of the carousel 48 has a chronological indicator corresponding to the current slider position 44b. It will be understood that the digital images do not need to be displayed in the form of such a carousel. Alternatively, e.g., only the image that is presently viewed is shown.
[0103] Turning to FIG. 13, a system including a first mobile device 50, a second device 52 and a server 54 is represented. The first mobile, the server 54 and the second device 52 are configured for exchanging information via wireless technology. The first mobile has an imaging device 56 and a display 58 and is configured for performing a method for assisting a user in capturing a digital image 60 of a transparent wound dressing 62 according to at least one embodiment as described previously. The second device 52 has a display 64 and is configured for performing a method for assisting a user in reviewing digital images 66 of a transparent wound dressing 62 according to at least one of the embodiments described previously. In this example, the server 54 is hosted remotely from the first mobile device 50 and from the second device 52 and configured for obtaining from the first mobile device 50 at least one digital image 60 of a transparent wound dressing 62 captured by the first mobile device 50, for storing the obtained at least one digital image 60 of a transparent wound dressing 62 captured by the first mobile device 50, and for transmitting the stored at least one digital image 60 of a transparent wound dressing 62 captured by the first mobile device 50 to the second device 52.
