Device and method for examining a diabetic foot

Abstract

The invention describes a device and a method for examining the sole of a foot. This invention can be used, for example, for the early detection of neuropathy and/or small wounds on the sole of the feet of diabetic patients. The device comprises a sending means for transmitting images of the sole to, for example, a doctor in a hospital. This enables rapid and simple recording of an image of the sole at home, and using relatively simple means, its transmission to, and examination by an expert at a remote location.

1 . A device for recording an image of the sole of a foot, comprising image-recording means for making an electronic image of the sole of the foot, wherein the device comprises sending means for sending the electronic image to a remote monitor.  
   
   
       2 . The device according to  claim 1 , which comprises a transparent foot supporting surface.  
   
   
       3 . The device according to  claim 1 , in which the electronic image comprises a color photograph of the sole of the foot.  
   
   
       4 . The device according to  claim 1 , in which the device comprises a connection for a television and/or a computer.  
   
   
       5 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the image-recording means comprises tuning means to permit zooming in or zooming out the image of the sole.  
   
   
       6 . The device according to  claim 1 , which comprises a regulating device, that communicates with the image-recording means, in order to control the image-recording means remotely.  
   
   
       7 . The device according to  claim 1 , which comprises switching means, that activate the image-recording means after pressure has been exerted thereupon.  
   
   
       8 . The device according to  claim 1 , in which the sending means sends a digital image of the sole by way of a digital network.  
   
   
       9 . A monitoring system comprising: 
 (a) a communication network;    (b) a recording device according to  claim 1  configured to create an electronic image of a sole of a foot and to send said electronic image into said communication network;    (c) a monitoring device configured to (i) receive said electronic image from said communication network, and (ii) display said electronic image.    
   
   
       10 . A system according to  claim 9 , wherein said monitoring device comprises memory for storing data, said monitoring device being configured to 
 (i) store electronic images in said memory; and    (ii) display said electronic image and to display an image of a foot sole received earlier from a foot sole recording device.    
   
   
       11 . A system according to  claim 9 , wherein said recording device is configured to send to said monitoring device information that identifies: 
 (i) said recording device; and/or    (ii) a user of said recording device.    
   
   
       12 . A system according to  claim 9 , wherein said monitoring device is configured to file and/or store said electronic image together with other electronic images being associated with the same identifying information.  
   
   
       13 . A method for examining the sole of a foot in a subject, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) creating an electronic image of the sole of the subject using the device and the image-recording means of  claim 1;     (b) sending the electronic image to a remote monitor;    (c) examining the sole by viewing the image on the monitor.    
   
   
       14 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein the examining further comprises: 
 (d) detecting or identifying any small wounds present on the sole as detected in said image;    (e) comparing the image of said sole with an image of the sole of the foot of said subject examined at a previous examination.    
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 13 , configured so that said subject can monitor the image on a visual display unit.  
   
   
       16 . A method according to  claim 13 , which comprises the step of positioning of the foot relative to the image-recording means.  
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the subject has diabetes.  
   
   
       18 . A method for examining a diabetic foot, comprising carrying out the method of  claim 13  on a the foot or feet of a diabetic subject.  
   
   
       19 . A method for examining a diabetic foot, comprising carrying out the method of  claim 14  on the foot or feet of a diabetic subject.  
   
   
       20 . A method for examining a diabetic foot, comprising using the device of  claim 1.