VA and GE Collaborate on Device to Evaluate Bedsores

GE Global Research, Niskayuna, NY

GE Global Research
Niskayuna, NY
www.geglobalresearch.com/news

A multi-disciplinary team of scientists at GE Global Research, the technology development arm for GE, have combined a wide range of sensing and analytical capabilities, including motion analysis, thermal profiling, image classification/ segmentation, 3D object reconstruction, and vapor detection into a single, hand-held medical sensing device to assess and monitor the progression of pressure ulcers, or bed sores. The device, developed in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Center for Innovation, is aimed at eliminating pressure ulcers from forming during hospital stays.

Fig. 1 – Here, a researcher captures an image of his hand to demonstrate the variety of images the device can show. Top left: Visual RGB image; bottom left: 3D image; top right: multi-spectral imaging and recovered feature map; bottom right: thermal imaging.

Pressure ulcers are a common ailment, but preventable condition that can develop for patients during long hospital stays. Bedridden patients, or those with spinal cord injuries, can be particularly at risk to develop bed sores. In US hospitals alone, approximately 2.5 million patients per year develop pressure ulcers, which require treatment. More than 60,000 die from bed sore complications in US hospitals each year.

“The device we have developed integrates multiple sensing and data analysis capabilities to help detect the earliest signs of ulcer formation” said Ting Yu, Principal Investigator on pressure ulcer prevention and care program. “It also provides a more objective and comprehensive assessment of the wound to understand its progression. We’re now testing this device with the VA in a clinical setting to see if it provides the kind of information that will help hospitals reduce and even one day eliminate pressure ulcers from developing with patients.”

How It Works

The probe integrates multiple sensing capabilities with analytics and user support features to more acutely measure pressure ulcer formation or to determine if a formed ulcer is healing. (See Figure 1) Its features include:

Thermal sensor: measures the temperature profile within and around the ulcer. An elevated temperature could indicate the onset of an infection or if the temperature elevation is around the peripheral of the wound, indicate that healing is occurring.

RGB sensor: can help characterize the visual color and texture pattern of the ulcer, providing quantitative analysis of the wound tissue composition.

3D sensor: allows the detailed capture of 3D geometric shape of the wound, enabling objective quantification of wound dimension changes over time.

Chemical sensor: can help detect the vapors released from the ulcer, which can indicate certain types of bacteria and infection.

Hyper spectral sensor: helps quantify the oxygenated hemoglobin, de-oxygenated hemoglobin, and their ratio in the skin area, which provides insight on ulcer healing or deterioration.

Situational awareness sensor: provides continuous 24/7 monitoring of patient positions in bed and his/her body movement, which can be critical to pressure ulcer prevention.

Decision support: measures from sensing modalities are indexed into a centralized database linked to a decision support dashboard web portal, where clinical users can easily read out the comprehensive analysis.

The prototype handheld probe is now being pilot tested at the Charlie Norwood VA Spinal Cord facility in Augusta, GA, with 18 already consented patients in the Center’s Spinal Cord Injury Unit.

For more information on GE Global Research, visit http://info.hotims.com/55590-194 .