A system for limb-volume measurement using 3D models from an infrared depth sensor

Lymphedema, a chronic disease caused by failure in the lymphatic system, affects nearly 500,000 people in the U.S., and over 2.4 million breast cancer survivors are at-risk for developing this disease at some point in their life. Early detection and management can significantly reduce the potential for symptoms and complications; however, many patients fail to seek medical assistance at the first sign of the disease. In this paper, we present a method for measuring limb volume and for detecting early swelling associated with lymphedema. The system relies on IR imaging sensors, such as in the Microsoft Kinect. This technique will allow for the future development of tools for self-management and specialist monitoring, and when compared to other commercially available devices, our system is less expensive, equally or more reliable/accurate, and much more user friendly.