Development of application for bedsores segmentation

• Grant number: 21/12636-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2022
• End date: March 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Biomedical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Regina Célia Coelho
• Grantee: Sarah Gonçalves Leite
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciência e Tecnologia (ICT). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São José dos Campos. São José dos Campos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Pressure ulcers, better known as bedsores, have been common in bedridden patients for a long time. They are ulcers that appear due to some bones' pressure on the skin (hence the name) in regions with more friction with the bed. Treatment follows a protocol that includes weekly ulcer assessment and therapeutic intervention. Thus, measurements of the size of the lesion are performed to assess its characteristics and whether the treatment is adequate. The most common way to perform these measurements is using a disposable ruler, which commonly leads to inaccurate wound measurements since, in general, they have a very irregular shape. Thus, this project aims to develop an algorithm for automatic segmentation of these bedsores from photos so that its results can be used to assist in monitoring the treatment of these ulcers. (AU)