WO1994013196A1 - Appareil d'examen, de collecte et de traitement de donnees - Google Patents

Appareil d'examen, de collecte et de traitement de donnees Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1994013196A1
WO1994013196A1 PCT/NO1993/000192 NO9300192W WO9413196A1 WO 1994013196 A1 WO1994013196 A1 WO 1994013196A1 NO 9300192 W NO9300192 W NO 9300192W WO 9413196 A1 WO9413196 A1 WO 9413196A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
person
image
temperature
stated
observation
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/NO1993/000192
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Bjørn FAGERLUND
Original Assignee
Diatherm As
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Diatherm As filed Critical Diatherm As
Priority to JP6514023A priority Critical patent/JPH08504340A/ja
Priority to AU57210/94A priority patent/AU5721094A/en
Publication of WO1994013196A1 publication Critical patent/WO1994013196A1/fr

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/01—Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue
    • A61B5/015—By temperature mapping of body part

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to apparatus for the obser ⁇ vation, collection and processing of data, in particular in connection with establishing an image of the condition of an organ, in particular a living organ, and more parti ⁇ cularly a person who is awake.
  • whiplash injuries may occur.
  • These types of injury generally do not leave any visible traces in the person afflicted, and there is great dissension among medical experts about the mechanisms of these in ⁇ juries and its implications, because it has so far only been possible to observe the pathophysiology, if any, of the injury, from interviews of the injured person by a doctor. This problem is especially dominant when the injured person approaches his insurance company to obtain compensation for the injury, and it is a not uncommon occurrence that the insurance companies refuse to accept the medical report they are given.
  • the injured person will have to undergo further examinations, and the final decision as to the degree of a whiplash injury as stated, frequently becomes a battle between the traffic victim and in general two groups of medical experts with diverging opinions.
  • One medical group subscribes to a diagnosis associated with a "pre-morbid character struc ⁇ ture” while the other group adheres to a diagnosis based on an "organic" injury.
  • whiplash injuries do not immediately re ⁇ present a neurological trauma. It has furthermore been suggested that examinations in connection with whiplash in ⁇ juries should also involve orthopaedists, psychiatrists, psychologists, anaesthesiologists, neurologists, neuro- physiologists, neurosurgeons etc., but not even this would make up for the lack of scientific apparatus which can in a scientifically satisfactory manner establish an image of the status which is specific in particular to whiplash injuries.
  • thermophotography is known, in particular in connection with observing thermal leaks in structural parts, buildings etc., and then in the area of industry.
  • Medical infrared thermography is further known in rheumatology, fibromyalgia, psoriasis, and burns, but then linked to entirely local phenomena e.g. skin in- juries, entrapped nerves, or tenosynivitis.
  • the present invention is thus based on the task to describe apparatus of the initially specified kind, which can in an easy and reliable way give a scientifically reproducible status image reflecting various degrees of whiplash injuries.
  • Figures 1, 2 and 3 are general outlines illustrating how a whiplash injury may occur, especially in connection with traffic accidents, and in particular when hit from behind.
  • Figure 4 is a schematic outline showing an embodiment of apparatus according to the present invention.
  • Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 show an example of a section of a parameter-variable computer status image, made by using the apparatus according to the present invention.
  • Figures 9A, 9B, 9C, 9D, 9E, 9F, and 9G show a series of sections of another computer status image, procured by means of the apparatus according to the present invention, for a person with a highly advanced whiplash injury.
  • Figures 10A, 10B, IOC, 10D, 10E, 10F, 10G, and 10H show a series of sections of a parameter-variable computer status image for a normal image and/or a norm image of an un ⁇ injured person.
  • whiplash injury For the comprehension of the origin and further progression of a whiplash injury, it is important to know the actual injury mechanism, as this kind of injury may occur in all contexts where the head is subjected to abrupt directional changes relative to the rest, of the body. It shall more ⁇ over be understood that a whiplash injury may also occur in combination with head injuries, and that such injuries are not solely associated with traffic accidents.
  • Figures 1, 2 and 3 which all relate to a traffic situation in which a driver 1 is exposed to a traffic accident by his car being hit from behind.
  • Figure 1 shows the normal driving situation with the person 1 sitting in the driver's seat 2, with the seat portion 4 mainly hori ⁇ zontal, and with the seat back 3 mainly vertical, and usually leaning somewhat backward.
  • the kinetic energy will be transferred from the automobile behind to the vehicle concerned, entailing that the seat back 3, as shown in Figure 2, will impact with the back of the person 1, as shown at the arrow 6 in Figure 2.
  • the first impact will occur in the hip/pelvis region as shown at the arrow 7 in Figure 2, whereupon the rest of the back will be flung backwards which will in turn entail that the head 8 for a very brief time interval will remain hanging forward in the automobile, until it is halted against the chest after an abnormally swift and exaggerated stretching of the region 9 of the back of the head.
  • the head 8 will there ⁇ after be subjected to an accelerating movement backwards and upwards, as shown with the reference numeral 8' in
  • this example of a whiplash injury is only intended to be illustrative, as the movement to which the body is subjected may be composed of movements forwards and backwards, as well as movements at an angle, and side-to-side movements, all depending on what the position is of the body at the time of collision. It all happens so quickly, however, that the person afflicted has no time to correct the bearing of his head to prevent the immediate harmful flinging movement of the head which also in many instances means a local collision between the skull and the cerebral substance with possible brain damage.
  • the spinal column of a person is intended to serve two main functions, namely stability and mobility and thus constitutes a highly sophisticated anatomical structure with 97 synovial and 23 synchondrotical joints.
  • the back and the back of the head are very flexible, but also highly vulnerable to excess strains, in particular because the ability of many of the structures in the spine, especially the supporting tendons, to regenerate is very low, although marginal.
  • Shown in Figure 4 is an example of an apparatus for obser- vation, collection and processing of data, in particular in connection with determining an image of a condition in a person 20 who has been exposed to a whiplash injury for the purpose not only of determining the said image of the status as such but also in relation to a normal image and/or a norm image.
  • the example of an apparatus shown in Figure 4 comprises means 21 for observing a larger area of the person 20, in particular the whole person 20, and in a specific working example, such means may comprise one or several thermo- graphic cameras, depending on whether a two-dimensional or a three-dimensional condition report of the person 20 is desired.
  • the apparatus shown in Figure 4 comprises means for detecting one or several parameters which vary in the person 20, especially across a larger area of the person 20, and more specifically across the whole person as such, and these means of detection may for instance com- prise means 22 which may suitably be integrally connected to the said camera 2 in a suitable unit 24 to allow the parameters observed at the camera 21 to be detected in the form of suitable data, using the said detection means 22.
  • these means of detection may for instance com- prise means 22 which may suitably be integrally connected to the said camera 2 in a suitable unit 24 to allow the parameters observed at the camera 21 to be detected in the form of suitable data, using the said detection means 22.
  • the means 23 may be a small computer which will by using suitable hardware or software be able to process the said data in a speedy and efficient manner, preferably in real time mode.
  • the apparatus shown in Figure 4 comprises means 25 for the display of the recorded and/or stored parameter data to provide with vari ⁇ able parameters, one or several computer status images, which is or are distinctive of whiplash injuries as mentioned above.
  • One such means of display may e.g. be a monitor screen which appropriately communicates with the previously mentioned computer 23 in such a way as to provide both live images and still images which reflect the special pattern characteristic of a whiplash injury.
  • variable-parameters computer status image obtained with a normal image and/or a norm image may be another computer comprising stored norm images and designed to receive the parameter-variable computer status images from the former computer 23, so that these images may be compared in preparing a basis related report on the status in the person 20.
  • a probe 27 which can in a suit ⁇ able manner be guided along the person 20 in contact with him, to feel the pain threshold of the person relative to the parameter-variable computer status image obtained from the computers 23 and 26, in order thus to have further con- firmation that a whiplash injury exists, and the degree to which it has progressed.
  • the camera 2 may suitably be a camera to detect variations in the generation of energy within the said larger areas of the person 20 or the whole person, and appropriately this may be a camera which detects emitted energy in a suitable infrared range, for example in the wave range 2-20 ⁇ .
  • FIG. 4 shown in Figure 4 is a printer unit 28 which serves to print out the image observed on the monitor 25, or serves to print out the relevant status image compared with a norm image.
  • the apparatus should be able to detect a core zone occurring in the region 201 at the back of the person's head, of particularly high energy- generation and thus high temperature, as well as branches of high temperature radiating from the core zone 201 and running along particular nerve paths or associated soft tissue, and then both from the back of the head 201 and to ⁇ wards the person's head 202, and from the back of the head 201 and downwards on the upper part 203 and lower part 204 of the person's body, as well as on the outsides of the person's arms 205, and also partly or completely down the person's thighs 206, optionally simultaneously with a scan of leg zones 207, 208 of particularly low temperature.
  • FIGS 5, 6, 7, and 8 Shown in Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8 are still images from the monitor 25 and as will be seen from them its is expedient that the above mentioned areas of high temperature should represent temperatures of abt. 35.5° C or above. If colour monitors are used, the apparatus as such may be adjusted to represent the highest temperature of 35.5°C in a yellow or yellow-white colour scale while intermediate temperatures of abt. 30°C may be represented by a reddish colour scale, while at the same time a lowest temperature which may be abt. 19°C and below, may be represented by a blue and/or black colour scale.
  • Figure 5 shows a frontal image of a person's head
  • Figure 6 shows the profile of the head region of a person
  • Figure 7 shows the midriff region of the person
  • Figure 8 shows the person's legs.
  • the computerised status image shown here is altogether specific to a whiplash injury, i.e. a core zone of high temperature is present in the region of the back of the person's head, which is also reflected in the person's body language in that the said person adopts a posture with the head's centre of gravity pushed forward somewhat relative to the back column for the purpose of alleviating the pain at the back of his head.
  • This core zone represents initially the seat of the whiplash injury, and when the injury progresses, the pain will develop along the crest of the back of the head and forwards in the head which also entails a corresponding re ⁇ flection in the temperature increase, see Figures 5 and 6.
  • the said change in the position of the head will lead to a changed posture of the upper back region which will in turn cause pains from tendons between the projections on the backbone and from the system of muscles among the ribs.
  • the pain will also spread from the area at the back of the head and down along the back which will be seen from Figure 6, but also clearly from the series of images 9A-9G, in particular Figure 9C, 9D and 9E, and in some the pain also spreads from the hip crest forwards towards the groin, see in particular Figure 7. Furthermore, the pain may spread down along the outside of the thigh, see in particular Figure 8, and down to the knee, and after some time, past the knee and along the out ⁇ side of the calf and down towards the outer rim of the foot. It should, however, be pointed out again here that the apparatus here will scan for a particularly low tempe ⁇ rature simultaneously with the patient here describing his "pains" as a numbness of the cold legs and feet areas.
  • Figures 10A-10H showing a corresponding series of images as in Figures 9A-9G, but taken here from a person not affected by whiplash injury.
  • the images of Figures 10A-10H show an uninjured person who will appear on a thermographic monitor with a body of comparatively cool colours, the coldest one being black, in particular the tip of his nose and the outermost cartilage of the ears, as well as the extremities of considerably reduced tempera ⁇ ture, down towards abt. 19°C where the normal temperature lies in the colour scale blue to red, i.e. in the range of abt. 30°C.
  • the probe 27 shown in Figure 4 which serves to detect the person's level of pain, may also be represented by an assistant person who communicates interactively with the observed person and the other com ⁇ ponents or elements which are part of the apparatus.
  • an assistant person or a medically skilled person attends the observation, he or she will be able to show as requested that the areas of pain coincide with the heated regions in the patient, since this may be done by the doctor applying light testing pressures with his fingers to these regions, and the patient will then express pain. Moreover, the doctor may show how unaffected soft tissue areas of the body are free from pain when touched in the same manner. The doctor may furthermore show the head injury at the back of the head and how it has spread in the body along nerve paths and encapsulating soft tissue as well as the muscular attachments involved.
  • a probe 27 is used or an assisting person, e.g. a doctor or a therapist, to feel the level of pain in the person observed, experience has surprisingly shown that the person expresses distinct pain responses from even the slightest pressure against the heated zones reflecting whiplash injury, or patterns as mentioned above, detected by the apparatus described.

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Medical Informatics (AREA)
  • Biophysics (AREA)
  • Pathology (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Molecular Biology (AREA)
  • Surgery (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Measuring And Recording Apparatus For Diagnosis (AREA)

Abstract

Appareil permettant de réaliser un examen et de collecter et de traiter des données, notamment pour établir la représentation de l'état d'un organe, notamment d'un organe vivant, plus spécifiquement chez un patient éveillé. L'appareil comprend les éléments suivants: a) un dispositif (21) d'examen de la plus grande partie du patient (20), notamment de l'ensemble du patient (20); b) un dispositif (22) de captage d'un ou plusieurs paramètres qui varient dans ladite plus grande partie du patient (20) sous forme de données appropriées; c) un dispositif (23) d'enregistrement et/ou de mémorisation desdits paramètres; d) un dispositif (25) d'affichage des paramètres enregistrés et/ou mémorisés pour obtenir une ou plusieurs images informatisées à paramètres variables appropriées à la symptomatologie des régions anatomiques pertinentes; e) un dispositif (26) de comparaison de l'image fixe informatisée à paramètres variables ainsi obtenue (201-204) avec une image normale et/ou une image de référence d'un patient comparable ne présentant pas de lésion; et f) un dispositif (27) de vérification du seuil de la douleur du patient, en corrélation avec ladite image.
PCT/NO1993/000192 1992-12-17 1993-12-16 Appareil d'examen, de collecte et de traitement de donnees WO1994013196A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP6514023A JPH08504340A (ja) 1992-12-17 1993-12-16 データの観察、収集及び処理のための装置
AU57210/94A AU5721094A (en) 1992-12-17 1993-12-16 Apparatus for observation, collection and processing of data

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NO924906 1992-12-17
NO924906A NO924906L (no) 1992-12-17 1992-12-17 Apparatur for observasjon, innsamling og bearbeiding av data

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1994013196A1 true WO1994013196A1 (fr) 1994-06-23

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PCT/NO1993/000192 WO1994013196A1 (fr) 1992-12-17 1993-12-16 Appareil d'examen, de collecte et de traitement de donnees

Country Status (4)

Country Link
JP (1) JPH08504340A (fr)
AU (1) AU5721094A (fr)
NO (1) NO924906L (fr)
WO (1) WO1994013196A1 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1212977A1 (fr) * 2000-12-11 2002-06-12 Reinhold Berz Procédé et appareil pour la détermination de la distribution de la température de la surface corporelle
US7462155B2 (en) 2004-10-27 2008-12-09 England Robert L Objective determination of chronic pain in patients

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102005049676B3 (de) * 2005-10-18 2006-11-16 Dräger Medical AG & Co. KG Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur berührungslosen Bestimmung der Körpertemperatur
US8634900B2 (en) * 2009-11-11 2014-01-21 Koninklijke Philips N.V. Mask comfort diagnostic method

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4379461A (en) * 1979-01-17 1983-04-12 Nilsson Erling S Thermographic apparatus
US4670781A (en) * 1984-06-06 1987-06-02 L'oreal Process and installation for the appreciation of variations in time of characteristics of a zone of or the whole of a person
US4844091A (en) * 1988-01-26 1989-07-04 C.P.S. Inc. Method for monitoring a state of being
WO1989009562A1 (fr) * 1988-04-08 1989-10-19 Koeltringer Peter Procede et dispositif de diagnostique pour les syndromes polyneuropathiques
US5019976A (en) * 1987-06-08 1991-05-28 New World Down Hole Tools Method and system for retrieving text associated with a reference image correspondence to a selected patient image
US5056525A (en) * 1984-03-21 1991-10-15 Hafezi Fred F Process for diagnosing spinal conditions

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4379461A (en) * 1979-01-17 1983-04-12 Nilsson Erling S Thermographic apparatus
US5056525A (en) * 1984-03-21 1991-10-15 Hafezi Fred F Process for diagnosing spinal conditions
US4670781A (en) * 1984-06-06 1987-06-02 L'oreal Process and installation for the appreciation of variations in time of characteristics of a zone of or the whole of a person
US5019976A (en) * 1987-06-08 1991-05-28 New World Down Hole Tools Method and system for retrieving text associated with a reference image correspondence to a selected patient image
US4844091A (en) * 1988-01-26 1989-07-04 C.P.S. Inc. Method for monitoring a state of being
WO1989009562A1 (fr) * 1988-04-08 1989-10-19 Koeltringer Peter Procede et dispositif de diagnostique pour les syndromes polyneuropathiques

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1212977A1 (fr) * 2000-12-11 2002-06-12 Reinhold Berz Procédé et appareil pour la détermination de la distribution de la température de la surface corporelle
US7462155B2 (en) 2004-10-27 2008-12-09 England Robert L Objective determination of chronic pain in patients

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NO924906L (no) 1994-06-20
AU5721094A (en) 1994-07-04
JPH08504340A (ja) 1996-05-14
NO924906D0 (no) 1992-12-17

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