SBIR Phase I: Feasibility of Automated Computer Vision Analysis of Diabetic Foot Complication Images from an At-Home Non-Intrusive Imaging Mat

该小型企业创新研究（SBIR）I期项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力是降低严重糖尿病足溃疡的患病率。这些溃疡影响了四分之一的糖尿病患者的一生，严重影响了他们的流动性和预期寿命。当溃疡的治疗为时已晚时，唯一的选择通常是截肢;事实上，糖尿病足溃疡占非创伤性下肢截肢的大多数。减少严重溃疡的发生率将改善美国公众的健康和福利，并减轻糖尿病对美国医疗保健系统的经济负担。据估计，糖尿病足溃疡的治疗占所有直接糖尿病医疗保健支出的三分之一。因此，预防这些溃疡每年将为美国医疗保健系统节省数百亿美元。这项小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目将开发一种计算机视觉系统，通过成像设备检测和监测糖尿病足溃疡。目前的护理标准是让患者每天目视检查自己的脚，但这些检查不一致且不可靠。如果成功，该系统将在几天和光照条件下自动识别患者的足部。它将对晚期伤口进行分类，使医生能够监测溃疡的进展或愈合。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to reduce the prevalence of severe diabetic foot ulcers. These ulcers affect one-fourth of patients with diabetes over their lifetimes, significantly impacting mobility and life expectancy. When treatment for an ulcer is too late, the only option is often amputation; in fact, diabetic foot ulcers account for the majority of non-traumatic lower extremity amputations. Reducing the incidence of severe ulcers will improve the health and welfare of the American public as well as mitigate the economic burden of diabetes on the American healthcare system. By some estimates, treatment for diabetic foot ulcers accounts for one-third of all direct diabetic healthcare spending. Therefore, preventing these ulcers would save the US healthcare system tens of billions of dollars per year. The proposed solution will monitor foot ulcers consistently to prevent further damage.This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will develop a computer vision system for detecting and monitoring diabetic foot ulcers with an imaging device. The current standard of care is for patients to inspect their own feet visually every day, but these inspections happen inconsistently and unreliably. If successful, this system will automatically identify patients’ feet consistently across several days and lighting conditions. It will classify late-stage wounds, allowing physicians to monitor progression or healing of ulcers. Further, it will estimate the risk of future ulcers, enabling early-stage intervention.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.