Advanced wound care requires innovative automated solutions, capable of saving clinicians' time while improving patient care [3, 4]. Research methods for wound monitoring are commonly based on smartphone apps combined with artificial intelligence (AI) [5]. These techniques are appealing due to the wide use of smartphone technology and AI. Nonetheless, there are considerable drawbacks such as digital camera hardware variability, lack of saturation image control or difficulty for autonomous patient use. Based on strong clinical traction, we propose developing a purpose-specific instrument to overcome such challenges.
During the first phase of designing and implementing the robotic stand, we extensively collected end-user feedback from the Twente hospitals and healthcare organisations, with emphasis on expert clinicians on wound monitoring care. From their wishes, we extracted a set of engineering specs that were implemented in practice as a functional pre-prototype (Figure 1).
In this project, the focus is on improving the industrial design. More precisely, we want to fit the Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) that integrate all necessary electronics, including interfacing to a Raspberry Pi and driving the motor actuators, along with the mechatronic hardware functionality. This PCB will serve as the central hub for controlling the electronic components of the system. We also plan to address interfacing technology with a dedicated user interface, to be used through a (touch) screen, a dedicated monitor or via a device app. The industrial design expert will link all of them in an integral setup that fulfils the clients’ needs. Of particular importance is the cable management that links the processor, dedicated PCBSs and distributed actuators while accommodating automated moving parts.