Appearance of human meridian-like structure and acupoints and its time correlation by infrared thermal imaging.
Yang HQ, Xie SS, Hu XL, Chen L, Li H. Key Laboratory of OptoElectronic Science and Technology for Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Laser and OptoElectronics Technology, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350007, China.
"The meridians and acupoints of human bodies at natural condition are investigated among 30 healthy volunteers by infrared thermal imaging technique. The results give clear evidence of the existence of infrared radiant tracks along human meridian courses. The time dependent evolution of the infrared radiant track is observed for the first time. The time rhythm of acupoints is also studied. Our findings not only support the view that infrared radiant tracks along human meridian courses is a normal vital and physiological phenomenon appearing in human beings, but also offer a potential method for noninvasive diagnostic by studying the physiological function and pathological change of meridians or acupoints by means of thermography."
Showing posts with label non-invasive. Show all posts
Showing posts with label non-invasive. Show all posts
Monday, June 13, 2016
Friday, June 10, 2016
Application of thermography for non-invasive diagnosis of thyroid gland disease.
Application of thermography for non-invasive diagnosis of thyroid gland disease.
Helmy A1, Holdmann M, Rizkalla M.
Abstract
In this paper, a computer-based prototype device was designed based on an economical noninvasive system that could detect and display the relative skin temperature variations present in human patients suffering from thyroid disorders. Such a system could be used to augment the normal procedures followed by the physician in diagnosing the thyroid to detect areas of hyperactivity within the gland. Because a hyperactive nodule is a center of increased blood flow and chemical activity, it might be also a center of heat production that is detectable by thermal sensing. This paper also presents a finite-element analysis (FEA) of a hot thyroid nodule that is used for investigating the temperature distribution in conjunction with the prototype. The instrumentation model built was based on actual dimensional human model for thyroid nodules obtained from various patients. A software program was written in Visual Basic to detect the temperature distribution around the hot spot. The software also incorporates means to minimize the thermal noise associated with the body temperature. The FEA utilizes the same boundary values used in the practical settings. This includes initial values of temperatures for the hot spot and its surroundings. The results of the finite-element simulation assisted in the selection of the solid state sensors that were used in the instrumentation of the thermographic system. The selected sensors were calibrated for their functionality and dynamic performance according to the specifications. The new noninvasive diagnostic technique was applied to patients having Graves' diseases at the Indiana University (IU) Hospital, and compared with the existing scheme that utilizes I Scan. The results of the new diagnostic method were in good agreement with the current existing method.
Helmy A1, Holdmann M, Rizkalla M.
Abstract
In this paper, a computer-based prototype device was designed based on an economical noninvasive system that could detect and display the relative skin temperature variations present in human patients suffering from thyroid disorders. Such a system could be used to augment the normal procedures followed by the physician in diagnosing the thyroid to detect areas of hyperactivity within the gland. Because a hyperactive nodule is a center of increased blood flow and chemical activity, it might be also a center of heat production that is detectable by thermal sensing. This paper also presents a finite-element analysis (FEA) of a hot thyroid nodule that is used for investigating the temperature distribution in conjunction with the prototype. The instrumentation model built was based on actual dimensional human model for thyroid nodules obtained from various patients. A software program was written in Visual Basic to detect the temperature distribution around the hot spot. The software also incorporates means to minimize the thermal noise associated with the body temperature. The FEA utilizes the same boundary values used in the practical settings. This includes initial values of temperatures for the hot spot and its surroundings. The results of the finite-element simulation assisted in the selection of the solid state sensors that were used in the instrumentation of the thermographic system. The selected sensors were calibrated for their functionality and dynamic performance according to the specifications. The new noninvasive diagnostic technique was applied to patients having Graves' diseases at the Indiana University (IU) Hospital, and compared with the existing scheme that utilizes I Scan. The results of the new diagnostic method were in good agreement with the current existing method.
Friday, June 3, 2016
Contemporary applications of infrared imaging in medical diagnostics.
Contemporary applications of infrared imaging in medical diagnostics.
Mikulska D. Katedra i Klinika Chorób Skórnych i Wenerycznych Pomorskiej Akademii Medycznej al. Powstanców Wlkp. 72, 70-111 Szczecin.
INTRODUCTION: Thermal imaging is a non-contact, non-invasive diagnostic method for study human body temperature. Therefore infrared thermal imaging finds increasing application in clinical medicine.
PURPOSE: The aim of this paper was to present and discuss the history and applications of thermal imaging in medicine.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: The literature dealing with the history and applications of thermal imaging in medicine has been reviewed.
RESULTS: Medical thermography was born in 1957 when a surgeon, Dr. R. Lawson discovered that his breast cancer patients had higher skin temperature over the cancer area. Since the 1970's thermography has been used in many areas of medicine. Early problems such as low detector sensitivity, but most significantly, poor training of thermography technicians was the source of error in thermography and retarded the acceptance of this technique until 1990. Since that time, thermographic equipment has evolved significantly. Modern thermal imaging systems comprise
technically advanced thermal cameras coupled to computers with sophisticated software solutions. The recorded images are now of good quality and may be further processed to obtain reliable information. Thermography can be applied as a diagnostic tool in oncology, allergic diseases, angiology, plastic surgery, rheumatology, and elsewhere. Contemporary thermal imaging must be performed according to certain principles aimed at reliability and reproducibility of results.
CONCLUSIONS: 1. Thermography is a safe, accurate and, most importantly, a noninvasive diagnostic method in clinical medicine. 2. Ignoring any of the principles worked out by the European Association of Thermology leaves thermography open to error and thus reduces acceptance of this technique in medical diagnostics.
Mikulska D. Katedra i Klinika Chorób Skórnych i Wenerycznych Pomorskiej Akademii Medycznej al. Powstanców Wlkp. 72, 70-111 Szczecin.
INTRODUCTION: Thermal imaging is a non-contact, non-invasive diagnostic method for study human body temperature. Therefore infrared thermal imaging finds increasing application in clinical medicine.
PURPOSE: The aim of this paper was to present and discuss the history and applications of thermal imaging in medicine.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: The literature dealing with the history and applications of thermal imaging in medicine has been reviewed.
RESULTS: Medical thermography was born in 1957 when a surgeon, Dr. R. Lawson discovered that his breast cancer patients had higher skin temperature over the cancer area. Since the 1970's thermography has been used in many areas of medicine. Early problems such as low detector sensitivity, but most significantly, poor training of thermography technicians was the source of error in thermography and retarded the acceptance of this technique until 1990. Since that time, thermographic equipment has evolved significantly. Modern thermal imaging systems comprise
technically advanced thermal cameras coupled to computers with sophisticated software solutions. The recorded images are now of good quality and may be further processed to obtain reliable information. Thermography can be applied as a diagnostic tool in oncology, allergic diseases, angiology, plastic surgery, rheumatology, and elsewhere. Contemporary thermal imaging must be performed according to certain principles aimed at reliability and reproducibility of results.
CONCLUSIONS: 1. Thermography is a safe, accurate and, most importantly, a noninvasive diagnostic method in clinical medicine. 2. Ignoring any of the principles worked out by the European Association of Thermology leaves thermography open to error and thus reduces acceptance of this technique in medical diagnostics.
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
Dynamic infrared imaging of cutaneous melanoma and normal skin in patients treated with BNCT.
Dynamic infrared imaging of cutaneous melanoma and normal skin in patients treated with BNCT.
Santa Cruz GA, Bertotti J, Marín J, González SJ, Gossio S, Alvarez D, Roth BM, Menéndez P, Pereira MD, Albero M, Cubau L, Orellano P, Liberman SJ.
Source
Dpto. de Instrumentación y Control, Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica, Av. del Libertador 8250 (1429), Buenos Aires, Argentina. santacr@cnea.gov.ar
Abstract
We recently initiated a program aimed to investigate the suitability of dynamic infrared imaging for following-up nodular melanoma patients treated with BNCT. The reason that makes infrared imaging attractive is the fact that it constitutes a functional and non-invasive imaging method, providing information on the normal and abnormal physiologic response of the nervous and vascular systems, as well as the local metabolic rate and inflammatory processes that ultimately appear as differences in the skin temperature. An infrared camera, with a focal plane array of 320 x 240 uncooled ferroelectric detectors is employed, which provides a video stream of the infrared emission in the 7-14 micron wavelength band. A double black-body is used as reference for absolute temperature calibration. After following a protocol for patient preparation and acclimatization, a basal study is performed. Subsequently, the anatomic region of interest is subjected to a provocation test (a cold stimulus), which induces an autonomic vasoconstriction reflex in normal structures, thus enhancing the thermal contrast due to the differences in the vasculature of the different skin regions. Radiation erythema reactions and melanoma nodules possess typically a faster temperature recovery than healthy, non-irradiated skin. However, some other non-pathological structures are also detectable by infrared imaging, (e.g. scars, vessels, arteriovenous anastomoses and injuries), thus requiring a multi-study comparison in order to discriminate the tumor signal. Besides the superficial nodules, which are readily noticeable by infrared imaging, we have detected thermal signals that are coincident with the location of non-palpable nodules, which are observable by CT and ultrasound. Diffuse regions of fast temperature recovery after a cold stimulus were observed between the third and sixth weeks post-BNCT, concurrent with the clinical manifestation of radiation erythema. The location of the erythematous visible and infrared regions is consistent with the 3D dosimetry calculations.
Santa Cruz GA, Bertotti J, Marín J, González SJ, Gossio S, Alvarez D, Roth BM, Menéndez P, Pereira MD, Albero M, Cubau L, Orellano P, Liberman SJ.
Source
Dpto. de Instrumentación y Control, Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica, Av. del Libertador 8250 (1429), Buenos Aires, Argentina. santacr@cnea.gov.ar
Abstract
We recently initiated a program aimed to investigate the suitability of dynamic infrared imaging for following-up nodular melanoma patients treated with BNCT. The reason that makes infrared imaging attractive is the fact that it constitutes a functional and non-invasive imaging method, providing information on the normal and abnormal physiologic response of the nervous and vascular systems, as well as the local metabolic rate and inflammatory processes that ultimately appear as differences in the skin temperature. An infrared camera, with a focal plane array of 320 x 240 uncooled ferroelectric detectors is employed, which provides a video stream of the infrared emission in the 7-14 micron wavelength band. A double black-body is used as reference for absolute temperature calibration. After following a protocol for patient preparation and acclimatization, a basal study is performed. Subsequently, the anatomic region of interest is subjected to a provocation test (a cold stimulus), which induces an autonomic vasoconstriction reflex in normal structures, thus enhancing the thermal contrast due to the differences in the vasculature of the different skin regions. Radiation erythema reactions and melanoma nodules possess typically a faster temperature recovery than healthy, non-irradiated skin. However, some other non-pathological structures are also detectable by infrared imaging, (e.g. scars, vessels, arteriovenous anastomoses and injuries), thus requiring a multi-study comparison in order to discriminate the tumor signal. Besides the superficial nodules, which are readily noticeable by infrared imaging, we have detected thermal signals that are coincident with the location of non-palpable nodules, which are observable by CT and ultrasound. Diffuse regions of fast temperature recovery after a cold stimulus were observed between the third and sixth weeks post-BNCT, concurrent with the clinical manifestation of radiation erythema. The location of the erythematous visible and infrared regions is consistent with the 3D dosimetry calculations.
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
Evaluation of provocation test monitoring palmoplantar temperature with the use of thermography for diagnosis of focal tonsillar infection in palmoplantar pustulosis.
Evaluation of
provocation test monitoring palmoplantar temperature with the use of thermography for diagnosis of focal
tonsillar infection in palmoplantar pustulosis.
Source
Department of Dermatology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho Kashihara, 634-8522,
Nara, Japan. asadah@naramed-u.ac.jp
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Since focal tonsillar
infections are often associated with palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP), provocation
tests have been performed for preoperative evaluation of tonsillectomy.
However, these tests have not been fully established.
OBJECTIVES:
To introduce a more sensitive operative indication for
tonsillectomy to the patients with PPP, we have monitored the temperature after
provocation tests at palmoplantar sites, as measured by thermography, and we hypothesized that this methodology may
lead to a more sensitive marker for tonsillectomy.
METHODS:
Twenty-two PPP patients with/without clinical tonsillitis were
included in this study. After mechanical tonsillar massage, using infrared thermography, we have monitored the surface temperature at
palmoplantar sites of 22 patients with PPP, five chronic tonsillitis patients
without PPP, and four healthy controls, to compare the findings with the skin
lesional outcome after tonsillectomy.
RESULTS:
There was a significant relationship between the effects of
tonsillectomy and the results of provocation tests assessed by thermography. The sensitivity, specificity, and efficiency
of the provocation tests with thermography of detecting a favorable outcome of tonsillectomy were 75.0, 83.3,
and 77.3%, respectively, while those of the provocation tests as estimated with
the conventional criteria were 37.5, 83.3, and 50.0%, respectively.
CONCLUSION:
Our results suggest that
a new indicator using non-invasive thermography for the provocation tests is useful in
predicting the effects of tonsillectomy for PPP.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)