title: Thermovisual evaluation of acupuncture points.
abstract: The aim of our study is to evaluate the temperature distributions around the acupuncture points and channels by visualizing the infrared emissions emanated from the human skin. Our thermal imaging system that is the most sensitive to 10um long infrared wavelength allows us to recognize the actual location of acupuncture point and analyze its functional condition by examining the temperature gradient between the point and its surrounding skin area. The temperature perception of acupuncture point on extremities is especially important since its location and functional condition have a tendency to be altered if one contract disease such as immunodeficiency, arterial hypertension, and dyskinesia of biliary ducts. Also, thermovisual examinations over the acupuncture points allow us to perform the objective medical treatments by observing the transition of temperature gradients.
authors.affiliation: OVTON Ltd, Thermovisual Diagnostics, Acupuncture, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ovechkin
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000628:therapy; D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000379:methods; D004055:Differential Thermal Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000379:methods; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena; D013817:Thermography / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods