Processing Medical Thermal Images

The book presents automatic and reproducible methods for the analysis of medical infrared images. All methods highlighted here have been practically implemented in Matlab, and the source code is presented and discussed in detail. Further, all methods have been verified with medical specialists, making the book an ideal resource for all IT specialists, bioengineers and physicians who wish to broaden their knowledge of tailored methods for medical infrared image analysis and processing.

The evolution of technological advances in infrared sensor technology, image processing, "smart" algorithms, knowledge-based databases, and their overall system integration has resulted in new methods of research and use in medical infrared imaging. The development of infrared cameras with focal plane arrays no longer requiring cooling, added a new dimension to this modality. Medical Infrared Imaging: Principles and Practices covers new ideas, concepts, and technologies along with historical background and clinical applications. The book begins by exploring worldwide advances in the medical applications of thermal imaging systems. It covers technology and hardware including detectors, detector materials, un-cooled focal plane arrays, high performance systems, camera characterization, electronics for on-chip image processing, optics, and cost-reduction designs. It then discusses the physiological basis of the thermal signature and its interpretation in a medical setting. The book also covers novel and emerging techniques, the complexities and importance of protocols for effective and reproducible results, storage and retrieval of thermal images, and ethical obligations. Of interest to both the medical and biomedical engineering communities, the book explores many opportunities for developing and conducting multidisciplinary research in many areas of medical infrared imaging. These range from clinical quantification to intelligent image processing for enhancement of the interpretation of images, and for further development of user-friendly high-resolution thermal cameras. These would enable the wide use of infrared imaging as a viable, noninvasive, low-cost, first-line detection modality.

Infrared thermography is a fast and non-invasive technology that provides a map of the temperature distribution on the body’s surface. This book provides a description of designing and developing a computer-assisted diagnosis (CAD) system based on thermography for diagnosing such common ailments as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), diabetes complications, and fever. It also introduces applications of machine-learning and deep-learning methods in the development of CAD systems. Key Features: Covers applications of various image processing techniques in thermal imaging applications for the diagnosis of different medical conditions Describes the development of a computer diagnostics system (CAD) based on thermographic data Discusses deep-learning models for accurate diagnosis of various diseases Includes new aspects in rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes research using advanced analytical tools Reviews application of feature fusion algorithms and feature reduction algorithms for accurate classification of images This book is aimed at researchers and graduate students in biomedical engineering, medicine, image processing, and CAD.

Infrared thermography is a fast and non-invasive technology that provides a map of the temperature distribution on the body’s surface. This book provides a description of designing and developing a computer-assisted diagnosis (CAD) system based on thermography for diagnosing such common ailments as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), diabetes complications, and fever. It also introduces applications of machine-learning and deep-learning methods in the development of CAD systems. Key Features: Covers applications of various image processing techniques in thermal imaging applications for the diagnosis of different medical conditions Describes the development of a computer diagnostics system (CAD) based on thermographic data Discusses deep-learning models for accurate diagnosis of various diseases Includes new aspects in rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes research using advanced analytical tools Reviews application of feature fusion algorithms and feature reduction algorithms for accurate classification of images This book is aimed at researchers and graduate students in biomedical engineering, medicine, image processing, and CAD.

Infrared Thermography (IRT) is commonly as a NDE tool to identify damages and provide remedial action. The fields of application are vast, such as, materials science, life sciences and applied engineering. This book offers a collection of ten chapters with three major sections - relating to application of infrared thermography to study problems in materials science, agriculture, veterinary and sports fields as well as in engineering applications. Both mathematical modeling and experimental aspects of IRT are evenly discussed in this book. It is our sincere hope that the book meets the requirements of researchers in the domain and inspires more researchers to study IRT.

Thermal images are essential to deal with situations in dark environments, as the thermal imaging theory is based on capturing the objects temperature. In Chapter One, the authors extract different features from images, which capture various characteristics of the images. Chapter Two discusses the use of hand held thermal imaging cameras for the use in Missing Persons searches. Chapter Three aims to review various infrared thermographic methods, viz., dynamic and steady state, passive and active methods for the detection of malignant lesion in breast and skin. Chapter Four is a review of literature regarding the relations between body composition and skin surface temperature (SST), measured with infrared thermography. Chapter Five discusses the use of infrared thermography in the medical field, and how the technique has the advantages of being non-invasive, fast, reliable, capable of producing multiple recordings in short intervals, and absolutely safe for patients and clinicians.

This book is a guide for the constantly growing community of the users of medical thermal imaging. It describes where and how an infrared equipment can be used in a strictly standardised way and how one can ultimately comprehensively report the findings. Due to their insight into the complex mechanisms behind the distribution of surface temperature, future users of medical thermal imaging should be able to provide careful, and cautious, interpretations of infrared thermograms, thus avoiding the pitfalls of the past. The authors are well-known pioneers of the technique of infrared imaging in medicine who have combined strict standard-based evaluation of medical thermal images with their expertise in clinical medicine and related fields of health management.

Although the technological boom has resulted in many advancements in modern society, it has also come with a few downfalls; most notably, the failure of new machines and equipment. This has prompted engineers to find suitable diagnostics tools to stop impending malfunctions and make working environments more efficient. Recent Advances in Applied Thermal Imaging for Industrial Applications is a critical reference source that outlines innovative analysis tools to combat systems failure in thermal imaging. Highlighting pertinent topics such as fuzzy c- means technique, human health diagnosis system, multidimensional processing, and optical analysis, this is an ideal resource for all engineers, practitioners, industry leaders, and researchers who are interested in staying up-to-date with advances in thermal imaging which prevents industrial system malfunctions.