Researchers in Australia have developed a smartphone-based system that combines thermal imaging with artificial intelligence to estimate whether a diabetes-related foot ulcer is likely to heal within twelve weeks.
The aim is to identify wounds requiring additional treatment at the first assessment, rather than waiting several weeks to determine whether healing is progressing.
The tool, called THERMUL, was developed by researchers at the University of Melbourne, RMIT University and aged-care provider Bolton Clarke. According to the University of Melbourne, the system has been trained using images and clinical outcomes from 110 patients treated at Austin Health and St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne.
Rather than relying only on the average temperature of a wound, the system analyses the spatial distribution and texture of temperature variations.
These patterns may reflect differences in inflammation, blood flow and tissue condition that are not readily visible during a conventional examination.
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