Infrared Thermal Scans - Green Technology For Health Imaging

With the emphasis on organics within the food,rhythm chaos and breast cancer, and stated that even
aesthetics and health care industries, the use of greenin the absence of mammographic evidence of a
technology for diagnostic imaging evaluations is equallyneoplasm or a palpable tumor, studies suggested that
warranted. Therefore, infrared thermal imaging is anan abnormal thermal sign, in the light of our present
appropriate and fundamental clinical test and fits withinknowledge of breast cancer, is ten times as important
this criteria. As a completely non-invasive heat picturean indication as is family history data.
can be taken of any area of the body with aAny health care facility that already observes the
specifically designed infrared camera, a unique andphysiological condition, either through thermometers,
supportive view of many health conditions can beenvironmental temperature markers, or existing
easily captured. We rely upon infrared cameras to tellinfrared devices, understands the importance of
us about the far reaches of the Universe. It'sthermoregulation, and being able to monitor it,
reasonable to expect that we should gain valuableeffectively. Modern infrared thermal imaging cameras
information on a human subject placed only four feetemploy the advanced use of optics, integrated circuits,
away.and infrared detector technology. With the assistance
The assessment of the human body through thermalof image processing software, a visually unique and
techniques is not new. It dates back to the ancientrelevant perspective on the human subject's condition
Egyptians, who moved their hands across the bodyis obtained.
without touching, and were able to computeThere is no contact with the body, and nothing is sent
information signals through the brain, based on whatinto the body. Heat signals are picked up in a very
they were receiving. Hippocrates immersed his patientsdramatic way. The images show the relative thermal
in mud, and where the area dried first was an indicatordistribution of a human being or animal, and give a
of disease. In their understanding of health, a thermalwealth of physical data, objectively.
perspective was subsequently obtained. The heatThere has been a great amount of thermological
signals that were released provided importantresearch conducted throughout the world, for decades,
indicators and a direction for care.on this FDA cleared test. The results have contributed
The role of thermal imaging is essential for women tosignificantly to the understanding and application of this
know about, especially in conjunction with breastimaging method, helping in all areas of clinical health,
examinations and mammography. Due to the highlyfrom fetal evaluation to brain surgery. The biomedical
sensitive nature of their breasts and other organs, theuse of infrared thermal imaging is well documented in
use of a truly non-invasive option for health evaluationsthe latest (3rd) edition of "The Biomedical Engineering
should be given. This is relevant when the possibleHandbook; Medical Devices and Systems"; CRC,
effects of repeated radiation and other invasiveTaylor and Francis. This is considered the foremost
procedures are to be considered.text in biomedical engineering and provides twenty
Recently published research in the American Journal ofchapters on the subject.
Surgery, October 2008, described the "EffectivenessThe improvements with infrared detector technology
of a noninvasive digital infrared thermal imaging systemand computerization have truly enabled this type of
in the detection of breast cancer." This work wasinstrument to be placed in any facility. With the
conducted by the Department of Surgery, New Yorkrelatively low cost of equipment and efficiency of
Presbyterian Hospital-Cornell, where they concludedoperation, digital infrared thermal imaging is a valuable
that digital infrared thermal imaging "is a valuabletool in the diagnostic arsenal. It's certainly worth
adjunct to mammography and ultrasound, especially insignificant consideration by all health professionals due
women with dense breast parenchyma." Theto its absence of impact on the environment and the
Department of Ob-Gyn at Northwestern Universitysubject being observed.
Medical School published a paper in 2001 on circadian