1. Thermal Imaging
  2. Applications
  3. Infrared cameras for use in medicine

Ther­mo­graphy in Medi­cine

The application of thermal imaging in human medicine is versatile and efficient

  • Thermography as non-contact and non-invasive process is patient-friendly

  • Infrared camera systems provide a detailed picture of the body temperature’s distribution in an efficient way

  • Thermography is able to identify various disease patterns

  • Imaging of smallest temperature differences in high resolution

Thermal imaging of a back
Thermal Imaging Veterinary Medicine - Examination of a dog
Thermal imaging of a horse
Thermal pattern distributions - Picture credits: journal pone 0221622 g001
Thermal imaging of legs
Thermal Imaging Veterinary Medicine - Examination of a zebra
0 | 6

Ther­mo­graphy in Human Medi­cine

Infrared camera systems make imaging of body temper­ature possible

The body temperature is an essential indicator for people’s health, and thus, much attention has been given to its determination. Measuring temperature with infrared camera systems comes with particular advantages for doctors as well for patients. As a non-contact and non-invasive diagnostic procedure, thermography is patient-friendly and does not only provide punctual temperature measurement but gives a detailed image of patients’ body temperature distribution.

Ther­mo­graphy is a flex­ible and budget-friendly diagnostic method

Since multiple disease patterns can be diagnosed through information on the body´s temperature distribution, thermography represents a highly flexible procedure which is, in comparison to other processes in medical engineering, budget-friendly. Thermographic diagnoses are often connected with an irritation of the body. Thus, on applying regulation thermography, affected body parts are exposed to a cold stimulus. Healthy body regions and organs balance out this intervention on the body-heat in another way than unhealthy ones. This process is, for instance, typical for the early detection of breast cancer. However, also the correct positioning of an acupuncture needle can be controlled by an infrared camera since heat development might differentiate depending on whether the needle has been placed on the right spot or not.

Human Medicine - Hands before the regulation
Human Medicine – Hands before the regulation therapy
Human Medicine - Hands after the regulation
Human Medicine – Hands after the regulation therapy

Case Studies about Human Medi­cine

Thermal Resol­u­tion of Infrared Camera Systems Determ­ines a Successful Analysis

On applying thermography for medical diagnosis, a question arises in terms of thermal resolution, which is the infrared camera’s ability to detect smallest differences in temperature. Minimal differences in degrees Celsius (hundredth of a degree) can be a crucial factor for a successful diagnosis. InfraTec provides with its VarioCAM® series highest thermal resolutions in the uncooled infrared camera segment. These infrared camera systems can be equipped with close-up lenses in order to analyse smallest body regions in detail. Thus, skin reactions like perspiration or temperature changes of the eyes are observable in an accurate way with the help of an infrared camera.

Advant­ages of this Ther­mo­graphy Solu­tions in this Applic­a­tion

Thermografie-Kameraserie ImageIR® mit neuer 10 GigE-Schnittstelle

10 GigE Inter­face for a Strong Increase in Output

The 10 Gigabit Ethernet interface of the high-end camera series ImageIR® opens this extremely fast transmission standard with a NIC specially developed by InfraTec. This works with optical or electrical transceiver modules that are easy to change and are called SFP+.

InfraTec Glossary Motorfocus

Motor Focus for ImageIR® Full Lenses – More Comfort

All interchangeable standard lens systems of the ImageIR® series can be combined with a motor focus unit, which is controlled by the camera operating software. It enables precise, remote and fast focusing. In addition, an autofocus function is available which operates reliably even with low image contrasts.

InfraTec Service - thermography lenses

High‐performance Full Optics

High quality precision lenses allow the adaptation of the image geometry to almost every measuring situation. Its performance parameters are calibrated with respect to functionality, quality and flexible application. Due to proper IR-transparent lens materials and high-precision antireflexion coating, the lenses are optimised for different spectral ranges.

InfraTec thermography - Geometrical Resolution

Geomet­rical Resol­u­tion – Effi­cient Analysis of Complex Assem­blies

InfraTec's infrared cameras with cooled and uncooled detectors have native resolutions up to (1,920 × 1,536) IR pixels. Spatially high-resolution thermograms ensure that components and assemblies are imaged down to the smallest detail and thus defects can be reliably detected and precisely localised.

InfraTec thermography - Thermal resolution

Thermal Resol­u­tion – Determ­in­a­tion of Differ­ences of Only a Few Millikelvin

For detection of small temperature changes InfraTec's infrared cameras offer thermal resolutions up to < 15 mK in real-time operation. By using the Lock-in Thermography method it is possible to further increase this resolution significantly. For this purpose test objects are periodically excited and non-destructively examined for defects and irregularities.

Thermografie-Kameraserie ImageIR® mit neuer 10 GigE-Schnittstelle

10 GigE Inter­face for a Strong Increase in Output

The 10 Gigabit Ethernet interface of the high-end camera series ImageIR® opens this extremely fast transmission standard with a NIC specially developed by InfraTec. This works with optical or electrical transceiver modules that are easy to change and are called SFP+.

InfraTec Glossary Motorfocus

Motor Focus for ImageIR® Full Lenses – More Comfort

All interchangeable standard lens systems of the ImageIR® series can be combined with a motor focus unit, which is controlled by the camera operating software. It enables precise, remote and fast focusing. In addition, an autofocus function is available which operates reliably even with low image contrasts.

InfraTec Service - thermography lenses

High‐performance Full Optics

High quality precision lenses allow the adaptation of the image geometry to almost every measuring situation. Its performance parameters are calibrated with respect to functionality, quality and flexible application. Due to proper IR-transparent lens materials and high-precision antireflexion coating, the lenses are optimised for different spectral ranges.

InfraTec thermography - Geometrical Resolution

Geomet­rical Resol­u­tion – Effi­cient Analysis of Complex Assem­blies

InfraTec's infrared cameras with cooled and uncooled detectors have native resolutions up to (1,920 × 1,536) IR pixels. Spatially high-resolution thermograms ensure that components and assemblies are imaged down to the smallest detail and thus defects can be reliably detected and precisely localised.

InfraTec thermography - Thermal resolution

Thermal Resol­u­tion – Determ­in­a­tion of Differ­ences of Only a Few Millikelvin

For detection of small temperature changes InfraTec's infrared cameras offer thermal resolutions up to < 15 mK in real-time operation. By using the Lock-in Thermography method it is possible to further increase this resolution significantly. For this purpose test objects are periodically excited and non-destructively examined for defects and irregularities.

Contact to thermography division of InfraTec

Would You Like to Know More?

It is not unusual for tasks to be associated with special requirements. Discuss your specific application needs with our specialists, receive further technical information or learn more about our additional services.

Europe & Rest of World
InfraTec GmbH Infrarotsensorik und MesstechnikGostritzer Straße 61 - 6301217 DresdenGERMANY

Ther­mo­graphy in Veter­inary Medi­cine

Various Disease Patterns are Detect­able by Means of Ther­mo­graphy

Medical examinations of animals can be carried out in an efficient way by applying infrared camera systems. Animal’s body temperature can indicate multiple health problems. These may affect the animal itself, as for instance diseases of the udder or hoof, or they result from animal husbandry, as it is in the case of an incorrect application of saddles causing pressure points and, following, local overheating on horses. Inflammations and lameness are further problems which can be detected with the help of thermography.

Infrared Camera’s Compact­ness and Small Size allows its Flex­ible Applic­a­tion

In particular, the application of infrared camera systems is of interest due to their high mobility and – in contrast to many other procedures of veterinary medical engineering – can, therefore, be taken into stables. InfraTec’s camera series VarioCAM® impresses especially with their small size and low weight. Moreover, thermography is a non-contact measurement process which ensures that animals are not unnecessarily provoked.

Case Studies about Medi­cine

Examination of hooves

Reli­able Diagnoses only with Excel­lent Thermal Resol­u­tions of Infrared Camera Systems

Minimal differences of an animal’s body temperature can be an indicator for disease patterns. Thus, applied infrared camera systems must detect smallest temperature differences requiring excellent thermal resolutions. InfraTec provides with its VarioCAM® series highest thermal resolutions and minimal differences in degrees Celsius (hundredth of a degree) in the uncooled infrared camera segment.

Infrared Cameras for Medical Applic­a­tions

InfraTec Infrared camera
Zoom Cameras

ImageIR® 6300 Z

Image Format(640 x 512) IR-Pixel
Detector typeXBn

InfraTec Infrared camera
High-end Cameras

ImageIR® 8300 hs

Image Format(640 x 512) IR-Pixel
Detector typeT2SLS or InSb

InfraTec Infrared camera
High-end Cameras

ImageIR® 9400 hp

Image Format(2,560 x 2,048) IR-Pixel
Detector typeInSb

InfraTec Infrared camera
High-end Cameras

ImageIR® 10300

Image Format(1,920 x 1,536) IR-Pixel
Detector typeInSb

InfraTec Infrared camera
System Cameras

VarioCAM® HD head 900

Image Format(2,048 x 1,536) IR-Pixel
Detector typeUncooled Microbolometer Focal Plane Array

InfraTec Infrared camera
Compact Cameras

PIR uc 605

Image Format(640 x 480) IR-Pixel
Detector typeUncooled Microbolometer Focal Plane Array

InfraTec Infrared camera
High-end Cameras

ImageIR® 9500

Image Format(2,560 x 1,440) IR-Pixel
Detector typeMCT

InfraTec Infrared camera
High-end Cameras

ImageIR® 9400

Image Format(2,560 x 2,048) IR-Pixel
Detector typeInSb

InfraTec Infrared camera
System Cameras

VarioCAM® HDx head S

Image Format(640 x 480) IR-Pixel
Detector typeUncooled Microbolometer Focal Plane Array

InfraTec Infrared camera
High-end Cameras

ImageIR® 9400 hs

Image Format(640 x 512) IR-Pixel
Detector typeInSb

InfraTec Infrared camera
High-end Cameras

ImageIR® 9300

Image Format(1,280 x 1,024) IR-Pixel
Detector typeInSb

InfraTec Infrared camera
High-end Cameras

ImageIR® 7300

Image Format(640 x 512) IR-Pixel
Detector typeMCT or InSb

InfraTec Infrared camera
System Cameras

VarioCAM® HDx head 600

Image Format(640 x 480) IR-Pixel
Detector typeUncooled Microbolometer Focal Plane Array

InfraTec Infrared camera
High-end Cameras

ImageIR® 8300 hp

Image Format(1,280 x 1,024) IR-Pixel
Detector typeMCT or InSb

InfraTec Infrared camera
High-end Cameras

ImageIR® 8800

Image Format(1,280 x 1,024) IR-Pixel
Detector typeMCT

InfraTec Infrared camera
High-end Cameras

ImageIR® 8300

Image Format(640 x 512) IR-Pixel
Detector typeMCT or InSb

10.000,00 €

TEST

InfraTec Infrared camera
High-end Cameras

ImageIR® 5300

Image Format(320 x 256) IR-Pixel
Detector typeMCT

InfraTec Infrared camera
System Cameras

VarioCAM® HD head 800

Image Format(1,024 x 768) IR-Pixel
Detector typeUncooled Microbolometer Focal Plane Array

InfraTec Infrared camera
High-end Cameras

ImageIR® 4300

Image Format(320 x 256) IR-Pixel
Detector typeMCT