3D tissue reconstruction with Kinect to evaluate neck lymphedema

TL;DR

This paper presents a novel 3D computer vision method using Kinect depth sensors to accurately measure volumetric changes in neck tissues for lymphedema therapy evaluation.

Contribution

It introduces a new approach for measuring soft tissue changes over time using Kinect-based 3D modeling, aiding therapy assessment.

Findings

Validated with medical experts for practical use

Accurately measures volumetric tissue changes

Potential to improve therapy evaluation process

Abstract

Lymphedema is a condition of localized tissue swelling caused by a damaged lymphatic system. Therapy to these tissues is applied manually. Some of the methods are lymph drainage, compression therapy or bandaging. However, the therapy methods are still insufficiently evaluated. Especially, because of not having a reliable method to measure the change of such a soft and flexible tissue. In this research, our goal has been providing a 3d computer vision based method to measure the changes of the neck tissues. To do so, we used Kinect as a depth sensor and built our algorithms for the point cloud data acquired from this sensor. The resulting 3D models of the patient necks are used for comparing the models in time and measuring the volumetric changes accurately. Our discussions with the medical doctors validate that, when used in practice this approach would be able to give better indication on which therapy method is helping and how the tissue is changing in time.