SEM Scanner Sensing Apparatus, System and Methodology for Early Detection of Ulcers

Abstract

A handheld, conforming capacitive sensing apparatus configured to measure Sub-Epidermal Moisture (SEM) as a mean to detect and monitor the formation of pressure ulcers. The device incorporates an array of electrodes which are excited to measure and scan SEM in a programmable and multiplexed manner by a battery-less RF-powered chip. The scanning operation is initiated by an interrogator which excites a coil embedded in the apparatus and provides the needed energy burst to support the scanning/reading operation. Each electrode measures the equivalent sub-epidermal capacitance corresponding and representing the moisture content.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A method comprising:
 a) emitting a first signal into a subject’s skin at a first location using a first sensor;   b) measuring a first reflected signal of said first signal from said subject’s skin using said first sensor;   c) emitting a second signal into said subject’s skin at a second location using a second sensor; and   d) measuring a second reflected signal of said second signal from said subject’s skin using said second sensor,   wherein said first reflected signal and said second reflected signal are reflected from different target depths within said subject’s skin.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said first sensor and said second sensor are positioned external to a surface of said subject’s skin. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said different target depths within said subject’s skin are selected based on one or more characteristics of said subject, wherein said first sensor or said second sensor are selected to measure said different target depths. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said one or more characteristics of said subject comprise age, region of said subject to be measured, or skin anatomy. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising selecting a different first sensor or a different second sensor to reach a different target depth within said subject’s skin. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said first sensor is independently operated from said second sensor. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising identifying a sub-epidermal moisture of said subject’s skin at said first location or said second location based on said first reflected signal or said second reflected signal. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said sub-epidermal moisture content is indicative of a likelihood of the presence or development of an ulcer. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein said ulcer is a pressure ulcer. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said first location comprises a body curvature or a bony prominence. 
     
     
         38 . An apparatus comprising:
 an array of sensors; and   interface electronics coupled to said array of sensors;   wherein said interface electronics are configured to control:
 i) emission of a plurality of signals from said array of sensors; and 
 ii) reception of a plurality of reflected signals from said subject’s skin, 
   wherein said plurality of reflected signals are reflected from a plurality of depths within said subject’s skin.   
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein a sensor of said array of sensors is independently coupled to said interface electronics. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein said array of sensors are configured to be positioned external to a surface of said subject’s skin. 
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein said array of sensors are configured to conform to a non-planar sensing surface of said subject’s skin. 
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein said non-planar sensing surface comprises a body curvature or bony prominence. 
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein said reflected signals indicate a sub-epidermal moisture of said subject’s skin. 
     
     
         44 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein a first sensor of said array of sensors is independently operated from a second sensor in said array of sensors. 
     
     
         45 . The apparatus of  claim 44 , wherein a third sensor of said array of sensors is independently operated from said first sensor and said second sensor. 
     
     
         46 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein a first sensor of said array of sensors and a second sensor of said array of sensors are insulated from each other. 
     
     
         47 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein a first sensor of said array of sensors and a second sensor of said array of sensors interrogate said subject’s skin at different depths. 
     
     
         48 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein said plurality of depths are selected based on one or more characteristics of said subject. 
     
     
         49 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein said one or more characteristics comprise age, skin anatomy, or region of said subject being scanned. 
     
     
         50 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , further comprising a camera. 
     
     
         51 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , further comprising a radio frequency (RF) scanner, wherein said subject is identified via a RF identification. 
     
     
         52 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , further comprising an electronics package connected to said interface electronics wherein said electronics package comprises software configured to implement a method comprising: receiving said plurality of reflected signals and correlating said reflected signals with (i) sub-epidermal moisture (SEM) values and (ii) locations on said subject’s skin. 
     
     
         53 . The apparatus of  claim 52 , wherein said electronics package is configured to transfer said SEM values and said locations to a remote device. 
     
     
         54 . The apparatus of  claim 53 , wherein said SEM values and said locations are transferred via wireless communication. 
     
     
         55 . The apparatus of  claim 53 , wherein said remote device is a computer. 
     
     
         56 . The apparatus of  claim 55 , wherein said computer is configured to display a map of said SEM values. 
     
     
         57 . The apparatus of  claim 55 , wherein said computer is configured to display a plot of changes in SEM values over time.