The medical technology group of the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands (IACTEC) has developed a system for the early detection of diabetic foot, a pathology that causes loss of sensitivity due to poor circulation that can lead to ulcers, and if not controlled in time, amputations. The tool in question, called PINRELL (Prototype for INfraREd analysis of Lower Limbs), is one of the three main lines of research in which the medical technology team of the IAC, as detailed this Monday by the scientific institution in a statement. This prototype integrates several sensors, mainly visible and thermal infrared, for the detection of the body’s natural radiation.
Currently, the research team is developing the design of a compact and portable device that integrates the different image acquisition sensors together with a computer containing the Artificial Intelligence (AI) software and algorithms. These have been specifically designed to improve the interpretability of images, the precise delimitation of areas of interest and the visual representation of medical images associated with specific clinical cases, so that they serve as tools to support the diagnosis of pathologies and research. explains Jordan Ortega, AI engineer in medical technology. In addition, during the last year the graphical interface of the device has been developed, which provides “great efficiency and versatility” to facilitate the use of the application for clinical trials, says Robabeh Salehiozoumchelouei, computer engineer on the project.
With PINRELL, the team has implemented data analysis algorithms for the early detection of pathologies associated with the diabetic foot. A machine learning-based system has been made to find and classify anomalous temperature patterns. In this way, a set of basic characteristics have been defined that, based on an image and automatically, allow us to distinguish between a healthy foot and a pathological one, details Natalia Arteaga, Artificial Vision engineer at TECMED. This research division of the IAC also works on the projects PROMISSE (PROtotype for MIcrowave System for Subcutaenous anomalies), a tool that allows the characterization of biological tissues at different depths, and MUTANT (Multimodal Tissue phANToms), for the development of artificially created models that emulate biological tissues. .
During this last year he has worked, in collaboration with the Department of Biomedical Engineering of the Technological Institute of the Canary Islands (ITC) and the Departments of Pulmonology and Radiology of the Hospital Universitario de Canarias (HUC), in the creation of a pseudoanthropomorphic model that simulates lung tissue and common pathologies for ultrasound-guided interventions. The Medical Technology program integrated into IACTEC has the support of the Cabildo de Tenerife through the IACTEC Technological Training program (TF INNOVA), the scientific infrastructure program of the Ministry of Science and Innovation, and the INTERREG program (MACBIOIDI2 MAC2/1.1 b/352), among others, in addition to having the collaboration of various public and private biomedical research entities, the note indicates.
