A pyroelectric thermal imaging system for use in medical diagnosis.
The value of infra-red thermography in a number of pathologies, notably rheumatology and vascular diseases, is becoming well established. However, the high cost of thermal scanners and the associated image processing computers has been a limitation to the widespread availability of this technique to the clinical community. This paper describes a relatively inexpensive thermographic system based on a pyroelectric vidicon scanner and a microcomputer. Software has been written with particular reference to the use of thermography in rheumatoid arthritis and vasospastic conditions such as Raynaud's phenomenon.
Black
C M
CM
Department of Rheumatology, Royal Free Hospital, Hampstead, London, UK.
Clark
R P
RP
Darton
K
K
Goff
M R
MR
Norman
T D
TD
Spikes
H A
HA
D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007259:Infrared Rays; D008838:Microcomputers; D012984:Software; D013817:Thermography / Q000379:methods*; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis