Kent Imaging Publishes PRISM Algorithm for Chronic Wound Care

Kent Imaging Inc., a leader in advanced wound imaging technology, has published the PRISM clinical algorithm for chronic wound care, marking a significant advancement in the field. This framework, developed by a multidisciplinary team of clinicians, integrates tissue oxygenation and bacterial autofluorescence imaging to provide a structured, imaging-first approach to wound assessment and management.

The PRISM algorithm, named for its ability to separate chronic wounds into five discrete barriers, aims to address the complex nature of hard-to-heal ulcers. According to the company, diabetic lower-extremity wounds carry a five-year recurrence rate of 40-65%, driven by three silent, modifiable failures: inadequate perfusion, unrecognized bacterial burden, and unaddressed biomechanical deformity. Traditionally, these factors have been assessed subjectively, making it challenging to develop an effective treatment plan.

The PRISM algorithm is designed around two key measurements captured by the SnapshotNIR and SnapshotGLO devices: tissue oxygenation and bacterial bioburden. Every PRISM encounter begins with these two images, captured before the wound is touched, and every downstream decision follows from what they show. The framework separates chronic wounds into five discrete barriers: Perfusion Imaging (P), Regional Bacterial Status (R), Infection Staging (I), Structural Correction (S), and Maintenance & Monitoring (M).

Perfusion Imaging (P) uses near-infrared spectroscopy to map tissue oxygen saturation (StO2), detect hypoxia, and screen vascular status via the plantar-palmar index (PPI) and a provocative elevation maneuver. Regional Bacterial Status (R) employs bacterial autofluorescence (BAF) to detect, localize, and grade bacterial burden, distinguishing red (general bacteria) from cyan (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) signal. Infection Staging (I) translates fluorescence findings into a Stage 0, V classification, guiding stepwise antimicrobial intervention. Structural Correction (S) involves surgical and biomechanical correction of deformities that drive recurrence, activated by persistent imaging findings. Maintenance & Monitoring (M) focuses on serial imaging on a findings-driven cadence, with offloading, glycemic control, education, and multidisciplinary follow-up.

The PRISM algorithm replaces subjective impression with objective data, providing a structured, imaging-first clinical pathway for chronic wound assessment and management. It is designed to help clinicians identify eight possible care scenarios, ranging from "Maintain" (StO2 above 70% with minimal bacterial burden) to "Urgent Dual Intervention" (StO2 below 40% with significant bacterial burden).

Kent Imaging Inc. has committed to developing future Snapshot technologies with PRISM at their core, extending standardized, imaging-driven wound assessment to new modalities. The Snapshot product suite now includes two imaging devices: SnapshotNIR, a near-infrared tissue oxygenation imaging device initially cleared by the FDA and Health Canada in 2017 and CE-marked in 2025; and SnapshotGLO, a bacterial autofluorescence imaging device that received FDA 510(k) clearance in 2025. SnapshotNIR is supported by clinical evidence demonstrating its role in enhancing clinical decision-making, while SnapshotGLO provides real-time insight into wound bioburden presence and distribution.