Device for non-invasive detection of skin problems associated with diabetes mellitus

Abstract

A medical diagnostic apparatus includes a controller; a user interface; a platform having a horizontal surface; and at least one visible light image sensor positioned below the horizontal surface that is capable of producing a diagnostic visible light image of a bottom portion of a foot or feet positioned on the horizontal surface. At least a portion of the horizontal surface is transparent to visible light. The apparatus may further include at least one infrared image sensor positioned below the horizontal surface that is capable of producing a thermal image of the first target area. The apparatus may further include sensors positioned above the platform capable of producing diagnostic visible light images or thermal images of a top portion of the user's foot or feet. The apparatus may further include a weight measurement system coupled to the platform.

1 . A medical diagnostic apparatus, comprising:
 a controller;   a user interface configured for user interaction with the medical diagnostic apparatus;   a platform comprising a horizontal surface, wherein at least a portion of the horizontal surface is transparent to visible light;   a weight measurement system coupled to the platform; and   at least one visible light image sensor positioned below the horizontal surface that is capable of producing a diagnostic visible light image of a bottom portion of a foot or feet positioned on the horizontal surface.   
     
     
         2 . The medical diagnostic apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the horizontal surface is transparent to infrared light suitable for thermal imaging, the medical diagnostic apparatus further comprising at least one infrared image sensor positioned below the horizontal surface that is capable of producing a thermal image of the first target area. 
     
     
         3 . The medical diagnostic apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface comprises an interactive voice interface. 
     
     
         4 . The medical diagnostic apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the user interface further comprises a display or a visual indicator. 
     
     
         5 . The medical diagnostic apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a visual or tactile guide for foot positioning. 
     
     
         6 . The medical diagnostic apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising one or more illumination sources. 
     
     
         7 . A device for testing for peripheral neuropathy comprising, in combination with the medical diagnostic apparatus of  claim 1 :
 a controller;   a foot platform having at least one opening;   at least one vertically oriented monofilament positioned to pass through the at least one opening of the foot platform; and   at least one actuator positioned below the at least one opening of the foot platform, the at least one actuator being mechanically coupled to the at least one vertically oriented monofilament and configured to move the at least one vertically oriented monofilament to pass through the at least one opening of the foot platform.   
     
     
         8 . The medical diagnostic apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising at least one visible light image sensor positioned above the platform capable of producing a diagnostic visible light image of a top portion of the user's foot or feet. 
     
     
         9 . The medical diagnostic apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising at least one infrared image sensor positioned above the platform capable of producing a thermal image of a top portion of the user's foot or feet. 
     
     
         10 . A medical diagnostic apparatus, comprising:
 a platform comprising a horizontal surface, wherein at least a portion of the horizontal surface is transparent to visible light;   at least one upper image sensor positioned above the horizontal surface, the at least one upper image sensor being configured to capture one or more images of a top portion of a foot or feet;   at least one lower image sensor positioned below the horizontal surface, the at least one lower image sensor being configured to capture one or more images of a bottom portion of the foot or feet;   a controller; and   a user interface configured for user interaction with the medical diagnostic apparatus.   
     
     
         11 . The medical diagnostic apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of the horizontal surface is transparent to infrared light suitable for thermal imaging, the medical diagnostic apparatus further comprising at least one infrared image sensor positioned below the horizontal surface that is capable of producing a thermal image of the bottom portion of the foot or feet. 
     
     
         12 . The medical diagnostic apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the user interface comprises one or more of an interactive voice interface, a display, or a visual indicator. 
     
     
         13 . The medical diagnostic apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one lower image sensor comprises two cameras positioned below the horizontal surface. 
     
     
         14 . The medical diagnostic apparatus of  claim 10  further comprising a visual or tactile guide for foot positioning. 
     
     
         15 . The medical diagnostic apparatus of  claim 10  further comprising one or more illumination sources. 
     
     
         16 . A method for automated diagnosis of a diabetic foot condition, the method comprising:
 capturing, by one or image capture devices of a medical diagnostic apparatus, optical image data of a target area of a foot;   collecting, by a touch sensitivity testing device of the medical diagnostic apparatus, physical touch sensitivity data for the target area of the foot;   transmitting, by the medical diagnostic apparatus, the optical image data, the physical touch sensitivity data, or a combination of such data to an analysis engine; and   outputting, by the analysis engine, one or more indications of a diabetic foot condition.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising checking the optical image data one or more of image quality, lighting conditions, or body positioning. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising, prior to collecting the physical touch sensitivity data, confirming the position of the foot based at least in part on the optical image data. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the touch sensitivity testing device comprises a servo-actuated monofilament probe. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the analysis engine comprises an image classifier.