title: A non-contact imaging-based approach to detecting stage I pressure ulcers.
abstract: This paper describes a non-contact imaging-based method to detect stage I pressure ulcers over a wide range of melanin levels. Two approaches were explored: the first used broad and narrow band visible spectrum imaging, and the second used near infrared (NIR) imaging. Preliminary results are presented together with results of numerical analysis of different erythema indices derived from the visible spectrum images. The results have shown that a low-cost imaging-based approach to detecting pressure ulcers is feasible and can yield promising results when applied to subjects with darker skin pigmentation.
authors.affiliation: Med. Autom. Res. Center, Virginia Univ., Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA. jleachtenauer@adelphia.net
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leachtenauer
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kell
authors.forename: Beverely
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Newcomer
authors.forename: Courtney
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lyder
authors.forename: Majd
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alwan
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D003880:Dermatology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004890:Erythema / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007259:Infrared Rays; D018715:Microscopy, Video; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011312:Pressure; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D012880:Skin Pigmentation; D012984:Software