Microsoft Research has developed a device that can virtually peel back layers of flesh and not leave a scar. This new piece of technology lets patients a look underneath their skin to help visualise an injury looks like on the inside. It is thought this could motivate physical therapy patients with their exercises.
Amy Karlson of Microsoft Research’s Computational User Experiences group says that up to half of patients with chronic conditions do not stick to their exercise recommendations and therefore their injuries take longer to heal, and can get worse. She believes that the more patients know about their injuries, the more likely they are to stick at their therapy.
The AnatOnMe device projects an image of underlying muscle, tissue and bone structure on to the skin, giving patients a clearer understanding of their injury and the healing process. The prototype comes with two parts. The first contains a digital camera, an infrared camera and a handheld projector. The second part has a laser pointer and the control buttons.
The therapist points the projector and a stock image, taken from a database of injuries at different stages of healing, appears onto the skin where the wound is. The images can be projected onto a nearby wall to show the injuries in more detail.
Karlson presented the device at this year’s CHI Conference in Vancouver, the Association for Computing Machinery’s Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. She reports that in controlled experiments it appears to be effective. Promisingly two physiotherapists said the device encouraged their patients to stick to their therapies.
Image by Paulnasca, in the public domain
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