More Accurate Wound Measurement For Better Treatment

March 31, 2009 - PRLog -- Oxford – 2 April 2009. Eykona Technologies - a start-up company specialising in developing a medical imaging device for the burgeoning advanced wound care market - is pleased to announce the publication of “An assessment of the accuracy and usability of a novel optical wound measurement system” in the prestigious journal of Diabetes UK - Diabetic Medicine.

The assessment demonstrates how Eykona’s device will allow clinicians to easily acquire detailed three dimensional images of “difficult to heal” wounds allowing monitoring, assessment and greatly facilitating remote diagnosis.

This work has been carried out in conjunction with researchers at two leading UK institutes, the Diabetes Lower Extremity Research Group (DIALEX) at the University of Manchester and Manchester Royal Infirmary, and the Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism (OCDEM) at the Churchill Hospital, Oxford.
Prof. Andrew Boulton, Global Chairman of the Diabetes Lower Extremity Research Group (DIALEX), said: “The development of an accurate three-dimensional method for assessing wound size is an important step forward and should have major implications not only for clinical research but also clinical practice, especially in the developing area of telemedicine”

The report looks at the accuracy and usability of a prototype wound measurement system deployed in the OCDEM and DIALEX clinics over a twelve week period in early 2008. The system is shown to give wound measurements using the “elliptical method” – an industry standard and routinely used in many clinics - with a high degree of correlation to actual physical measurement.

Prof. David Matthews, Chairman of the Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism (OCDEM) said: “This is a really significant advance in recording and monitoring complex pathology. It will allow us to communicate, with high-quality images, between specialties and be an important tool for tracking disease processes and for research into wound healing”

Moreover, the research gives early support that the system can be easily deployed in a routine clinical setting, and for the accuracy of measurements taken with the system. This system has the potential to become the gold standard in comprehensive monitoring of wounds and the healing process.  The device will allow clinicians to easily acquire detailed three dimensional images of “difficult to heal” wounds. Remote monitoring of wounds offers many benefits to research, clinical trials and routine clinical care.
Paul Murphy, the newly appointed CEO of Eykona Technologies Ltd, said: “Accurate and repeatable measurement of wound volume is essential to prove that patients are being given the best possible care.  As the population in the western world ages, more and more of us will suffer from chronic wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers.  Eykona has developed an easy-to-use tool which will help both clinicians and payers.  Accurate measurement of healing progress will guide clinicians towards the right treatment choices whilst effective documentation will also help payers and reimbursement agencies get maximum value for money by ensuring that increasingly expensive wound treatments really are giving the desired healing outcomes”.

Further information please contact:

Paul Murphy, CEO, +44 (0) 7515 110 440
Eykona Technologies – www.eykona.com

Carol Hill, +44 (0) 1865 857 312    
OCDEM – www.ocdem.com

Frank Bowling, +44 (0) 7515 683 358
DIALEX – www.dialex.org

Diabetic Medicine can be accessed at:
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/117977850/home

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Eykona, a spin-out from the University of Oxford, is developing a novel, non-contact way of measuring wound volume. Accurate measurement of wound volume will help optimise wound care, decreasing healing times and saving money for health providers