Abstract
A system for determining differential temperature in body part includes a sensor device(s) with a base having first side and second side opposite to first side; and temperature-sensitive element(s) being provided on first side of base, wherein when sensor device(s) in use, first side is in contact with body part of user for predefined time period and temperature-sensitive element(s) senses temperatures of different regions of body part; camera(s) configured to capture image(s) of first side, wherein image(s) captured within given time period from time of removal of contact between first side and body part; processor(s) communicably coupled to camera(s), wherein processor(s) configured to: identify, in image(s), image segment(s) representing temperature-sensitive element(s); recognize pixel values of pixels image segment(s); determine temperatures of different regions of body part, based on pixel values of pixels in image segment(s), temperatures of different regions of body part form differential temperature profile of body part.
Claims
1. A system for determining differential temperature in a body part, the system comprising: at least one sensor device comprising a base having a first side and a second side opposite to the first side; and at least one temperature-sensitive element provided on the first side of the base, wherein the temperature-sensitive element is arranged to sense temperatures of different regions of a body part of a user upon contact with the body part of the user for a predefined time period by changing it colour proportionally to the temperature of each region of the body part. at least one camera configured to capture at least one image of the first side, wherein the at least one image is captured within a given time period from a time of removal of contact between the first side and the body part; and at least one processor communicably coupled to the at least one camera, wherein the at least one processor is configured to: identify, in the at least one image, at least one image segment representing the at least one temperature-sensitive element; recognize pixel values of pixels in the at least one image segment; and determine the temperatures of different regions of the body part, based on the pixel values of pixels in the at least one image segment, wherein the temperatures of different regions of the body part form a differential temperature profile of the body part.
2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: for each region amongst the different regions of the body part, determine whether a temperature of said region exceeds a predefined temperature threshold value; and generate a thermal map of the body part based on the differential temperature profile of the body part, wherein the thermal map indicates any region whose temperature exceeds the predefined temperature threshold value.
3. A system according to claim 1, further comprising an infrared temperature measurement device configured to measure test temperatures of different regions of the body part, and wherein the at least one processor is further configured to receive the test temperatures of different regions of the body part from the infrared temperature measurement device.
4. A system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one user device communicably coupled to the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to send, to the at least one user device, at least one of: the temperatures of different regions of the body part, a thermal map of the body part, test temperatures of different regions of the body part, for presentation on the at least one user device.
5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor device comprises a unique identifier provided on the base, the at least one camera being configured to capture at least one identification image representing the unique identifier, wherein the at least one processor is configured to: identify the unique identifier in the at least one identification image; associate the temperatures of different regions of the body part that are determined to the unique identifier; and perform one of: block future interpretation of sensed temperatures from the at least one sensor device, permit future interpretation of sensed temperatures from the at least one sensor device upon successful reuse actions being implemented.
6. A system according to claim 5, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: process the at least one identification image to determine at least one usage parameter, wherein the at least one usage parameter comprises at least one of: the body part for which the at least one sensor device is used, a number of times the at least one sensor device has been used, a remaining number of times of future use of the at least one sensor device, a total number of times the at least one sensor device can be used, a predefined temperature range for storing the at least one sensor device when not in use, a time period within which the at least one sensor device can be used; and associate the at least one usage parameter to the unique identifier.
7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one camera is configured to capture at least one body image representing at least the body part of the user, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: identify features of the body part that are represented in the at least one body image; digitally superimpose at least one virtual object on the at least one body image for enabling correct placement of the at least one sensor device on the body part; and send the at least one body image having the at least one virtual object superimposed thereon to the at least one user device for display thereat.
8. A system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor device comprises a first sensor device and a second sensor device and the body part comprises a first body part and a second body part, wherein the first sensor device is used for determining first temperatures of different regions of the first body part of the user and the second sensor device is used for determining second temperatures of different regions of the second body part of the user, and wherein the at least one processor is configured to: for a given region of the body part, compare its corresponding first temperature and second temperature to determine a temperature difference therebetween.
9. A system according to claim 1, wherein the body part is one of: at least one breast, at least one portion of the skin, at least one testicle, at least one foot.
10. A system according to claim 9, wherein when the body part is the at least one breast, the base of the at least one sensor device has a hole, and the at least one temperature-sensitive element at least partially surrounds the hole.
11. A system according to claim 1, wherein the contact between the first side and the body part is made using at least one of: an adhesive, a supporting element upon which the at least one sensor device is arranged and which is to be placed in contact with the body part, a tying means, a clamping means.
12. A sensor device comprising: a base having a first side and a second side opposite to the first side; and at least one temperature-sensitive element provided on the first side of the base, wherein the temperature-sensitive element is arranged to sense temperatures of different regions of a body part of a user upon contact with the body part of the user for a predefined time period by changing colour of each region of the temperature-sensitive element, proportionally to the temperature of the each region of the body part.
13. A sensor device according to claim 12, wherein the at least one temperature-sensitive element is implemented as at least one of: a coating of a temperature-sensitive material on the first side, an element having wells in which a temperature-sensitive material is filled, a thermally-conductive covering in which a temperature-sensitive material is filled.
14. A sensor device according to claim 12- or 13, wherein the at least one temperature-sensitive material is at least one of: a thermosensitive fluid, a thermosensitive compound.
15. A sensor device according to any of claims 12-14, wherein when the body part is at least one breast, the base of the sensor device has a hole, and the at least one temperature-sensitive element at least partially surrounds the hole.
16. A sensor device according to any of claims 12-15, wherein the contact between the first side and the body part is made using at least one of: an adhesive, a supporting element, a tying means, a clamping means.
17. A method for determining a differential temperature in a body part, the method comprising: capturing at least one image of a first side of at least one sensor device, wherein the at least one image is captured within a given time period from a time of removal of contact between the first side and the body part; identifying, in the at least one image, at least one image segment representing at least one temperature-sensitive element of the at least one sensor device; recognizing pixel values of pixels in the at least one image segment; and determining the temperatures of different regions of the body part, based on the pixel values of pixels in the at least one image segment, wherein the temperatures of different regions of the body part form a differential temperature profile of the body part.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0103] One or more embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following diagrams wherein:
[0104] FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D are block diagrams representing a system for determining differential temperature in a body part, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure;
[0105] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of at least one sensor device when a body part is at least one breast, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0106] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of at least one sensor device when a body part is at least one breast, in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0107] FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of at least one sensor device when a body part is at least one breast, in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0108] FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of at least one sensor device having a unique identifier when a body part is at least one breast, in accordance with still another embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0109] FIG. 6 is another schematic illustration of the sensor device 200 of FIG. 2, when a body part is at least one breast, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0110] FIGS. 7A and 7B are schematic illustrations of at least one sensor device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0111] FIG. 8 is an exemplary implementation of at least one sensor device for determining differential temperature in a body part, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0112] FIGS. 9A and 9B are schematic illustrations of different designs of at least one sensor device, in accordance with different embodiments of the present disclosure; and
[0113] FIG. 10 is an illustration of a flowchart depicting steps of a method for determining differential temperature in a body part, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0114] Referring to FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D, there are shown block diagrams representing a system 100 for determining differential temperature in a body part, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. In FIGS. 1A-1D, the system 100 comprises at least one sensor device (depicted as a sensor device 102), at least one camera (depicted as a camera 104), and at least one processor (depicted as a processor 106). The processor 106 is communicatively coupled to the camera 104 via a communication network 108. In FIG. 1B, the system 100 is shown to comprise a first sensor device 102A and a second sensor device 102B corresponding to a first body part and a second body part. When the system 100 is in use, the first sensor device 102A and the second sensor device 102B are used for determining first temperatures of different regions of the first body part of the user and for determining second temperatures of different regions of a second body part of the user respectively. In FIG. 1C, the system 100 further comprises at least one user device (depicted as a user device 112) communicably coupled to the processor 106 via the communication network 108. In FIG. 1D, the system 100 further comprises an infrared temperature measurement device 110 communicatively coupled to the processor 106 via the communication network 108. The infrared temperature measurement device 110 could be implemented in combination with the camera 104 or as a part of the camera 104.
[0115] FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D are merely examples, which should not unduly limit the scope of the claims herein. A person skilled in the art will recognize many variations, alternatives, and modifications of embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0116] Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a schematic illustration of at least one sensor device (depicted as a sensor device 200) when a body part is at least one breast, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The sensor device 200 comprises a base 202 having a first side 204, a second side (not shown) opposite to the first side 204, a hole 206 and three temperature-sensitive elements 208A, 208B and 208C surrounding the hole 206. The three temperature-sensitive elements 208A-C are implemented as elements having a plurality of wells (depicted as wells 210A, 210B, and 210C) in which a temperature-sensitive material is filled. Each of the three temperature-sensitive elements 208A-C includes a plurality of columns, numbered from 1-18. Each of the columns includes multiple wells from amongst the plurality of wells 210A-C. Further, the base 202 comprises a peelable element 212. The elements of the sensor device 200 that are common to sensor devices of FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 6, have been referred to with same numbering as in FIG. 2, for sake of simplicity.
[0117] Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a schematic illustration of at least one sensor device (depicted as a sensor device 300) when a body part is at least one breast, in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure. The sensor device 300 comprises at least one temperature-sensitive element (depicted as a temperature-sensitive element 302) implemented as a coating on the first side 204.
[0118] Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a schematic illustration of at least one sensor device (depicted as a sensor device 400) when a body part is at least one breast, in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present disclosure. The sensor device 400 comprises three temperature-sensitive elements 402A, 402B and 402C implemented as coatings on the first side 204.
[0119] Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown a schematic illustration of at least one sensor device (depicted as a sensor device 500) when a body part is at least one breast, in accordance with still another embodiment of the present disclosure. The sensor device 500 comprises a unique identifier 502 provided on the first side 204 of the base 202.
[0120] Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown another schematic illustration of the sensor device 200 of FIG. 2, when a body part is at least one breast, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As mentioned in FIG. 2, the sensor device 200 comprises the base 202 having the first side (not shown), a second side 602 opposite to the first side 204, and the hole 206. Further, a protruded portion of the peelable element 212 is visible from the second side 602 of the base 202.
[0121] FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 5, and FIG. 6 are merely examples, which should not unduly limit the scope of the claims herein. A person skilled in the art will recognize many variations, alternatives, and modifications of embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0122] Referring to FIGS. 7A and 7B, there are shown schematic illustrations of at least one sensor device (depicted as a sensor device 700), in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In FIG. 7A, the sensor device 700 comprises a base 702 having a first side 704A, and a temperature-sensitive element 706. The temperature-sensitive element 706 is implemented as an element having a plurality of wells (depicted as wells 708A, 708B, and 708C) in which a temperature-sensitive material is filled. The temperature-sensitive element 706 includes a plurality of columns, numbered from 1-18. Each of the columns includes multiple wells from amongst the plurality of wells 708A-C. Optionally, the base 702 comprises a peelable element 710. In FIG. 7B, the base 702 of the sensor device 700 comprises the second side 704B opposite to the first side 704A, and optionally, a protruded portion of the peelable element 710 is visible from the second side 704B of the base 702.
[0123] FIGS. 7A and 7B are merely examples, which should not unduly limit the scope of the claims herein. A person skilled in the art will recognize many variations, alternatives, and modifications of embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0124] Referring to FIG. 8, there is shown an exemplary implementation of at least one sensor device 800 for determining differential temperature in a body part, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The at least one sensor device 800 comprises a first sensor device 802A and a second sensor device 802B. The sensor device 800 comprises a portion 801A and a portion 801B (not shown) opposite to the portion 801A portion, thus located in a region closes to the heels of the feet shown and a portion 804C. The first sensor device 802A comprises a base 804A having a first side 806A and a second side (not shown) opposite to the first side 806A, and a temperature-sensitive element on the first side 806A. The second sensor device 802B comprises another base 804B having another first side 806B and another second side (not shown) opposite to the another first side 806B, and another temperature-sensitive element on the another first side 806B. The body part comprises a first body part (depicted, for example, as a left foot 808A) and a second body part (depicted, for example, as a right foot 808B). When the first sensor device 802A and the second sensor device 802B are in use, the first side 806A of the first sensor device 802A is in contact with the left foot 808A and the another first side 806B of the second sensor device 802B is in contact with the right foot 808B. The first sensor device 802A is used for determining first temperatures of different regions of the left foot 808A and the second sensor device 802B is used for determining second temperatures of different regions of the right foot 808B.
[0125] FIG. 8 is merely an example, which should not unduly limit the scope of the claims herein. For example, in FIG. 8, one or more of the portions 801A, 801B, 804C may be protruded portions. Similarly, the sides 804A, 804b, 804C may be protruded sides. Protruded portions and/or the sides act as guides for each foot to ensure that each foot is located in an approximately optimum region for the use of the sensor device 800.
[0126] A person skilled in the art will recognize many variations, alternatives, and modifications of embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, the body part could be any other body part such as a left palm and a right palm, a left testicle and a right testicle, and similar.
[0127] Referring to FIGS. 9A and 9B, there are shown schematic illustrations of different designs of sensor device 900, in accordance with different embodiments of the present disclosure. In FIGS. 9A and 9B, the sensor device 900 is a circular disc comprising a hole 902, and at least two slits (depicted as slits 904A and 904B in FIG. 9A and as slits 904C, 904D, 904E, and 904F). A diameter of the circular disc may be 14 centimetres. A radius of the hole 902 is 2 centimetres. The slits 904A-F are cut from a perimeter edge of the circular disc, and is at a predefined distance away from the hole 902. In FIG. 9A, the slits 904A-B are in a shape of an acute triangle, wherein angles of the acute triangle are depicted as an interior angle A, and exterior angles B and C. For example, the interior angle A may be 41 degrees, the exterior angle B may be 91 degrees and the exterior angle C may be 96 degrees. In FIG. 9B, the slits 904C-F are in a shape of a rectangle, wherein the slit 904C and the slit 904E are opposite to each other, and the slit 904D and the slit 904F are diametrically opposite to each other. A length and width of the slits 904C-F may be 5 centimetres and 0.7 centimetres, respectively.
[0128] FIGS. 9A-B are merely examples, which should not unduly limit the scope of the claims herein. A person skilled in the art will recognize many variations, alternatives, and modifications of embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0129] FIG. 10 is an illustration of a flowchart depicting steps of a method for determining the differential temperature in a body part, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. At step 1002, at least one image of a first side of at least one sensor device is captured. The at least one image is captured within a given time period from a time of removal of contact between the first side and the body part. At step 1004, in the at least one image, an image segment representing at least one temperature-sensitive element of the at least one sensor device is identified. At step 1006, pixel values of pixels in the at least one image segment are recognized. At step 1008, temperatures of different regions of the body part are determined, based on the pixel values of pixels in the at least one image segment, the temperatures of different regions of the body part form a differential temperature profile of the body part. It will be appreciated that prior to step 1002, the method requires providing at least one sensor device comprising a temperature sensitive material. At step 1004, an image (or each image) is identified, preferably by capturing the image using a digital camera, for example a camera of a mobile device. If the image is capture using the camera of a mobile device, and using the function inbuilt in a software application of the present invention, then step 1008 is carried out automatically by the software application, which in turn will determine and/or display the temperatures of different regions of the body part form a differential temperature profile of the body part. Alternatively, the image may be stored a mobile device comprising the software application of the present invention, and subsequently read and interpreted by the software application according to step 1008 upon a command from the user of the mobile device comprising the said software application. Furthermore, the method may comprise providing an indication of one or more abnormalities on a body part as a subsequent step. In such a case, the user will scan a unique identifier provided on the base of the sensor device. This step of scanning (providing the information to the software application) the unique identifier is essential for ensuring accuracy of measurements after reuse of the device as explained above. In particular, the device comprising thermochromic ink, may be reused for a number of times after the device is cooled to a temperature that is lower than the lower limit of the operating range of the device, which may be, for example, 25-40 degrees Celsius, or 27 to 38 degrees Celsius. The number of reuses allowed may vary per sensor device since it may slightly vary depending on handling of the device. Therefore, such number is defined by the software application based on a calibration of the expected normal temperature range of a body part. If such a normal expected temperature, for example a temperature of a body part that has not regions with different temperatures, is sensed (detected by the colours) by the material showing a colour (i.e. a pixel value) outside of a predefined calibrated range of values, the software application will provide a message that reuse should no longer be made.
[0130] The aforementioned steps are only Illustrative, and other alternatives can also be provided where one or more steps are added, one or more steps are removed, or one or more steps are provided in a different sequence without departing from the scope of the claims herein.
