BIO-MEDICAL INSTRUMENTATION

-THERMOGRAPHY
 THERMOGRAPHY:
• Process of recording true thermal images of surfaces of
objects under study.
• In medicine, thermography displays images representing
thermal radiations of skin areas.
• Accounts for the possible changes in skin emissivity, the
images are considered as maps of temperature.
• Types:
Infrared thermography
 Liquid crystal thermography

 Microwave thermography
 INFRARED THERMOGRAPHY:
• Human skin emits IR rays as an exponential function of its
absolute temperature & emissive properties of the skin
temperature.
• Radiant energy is emitted in broad band of wavelengths.
• Carried out usually at 20°c after cooling period of 15 mins.
• Photovoltaic or photo-conductive IR detectors are
commonly used.
• Photo-voltaic types: can be obtained only when in liquid
nitrogen
 In Sb : sensitivity=> 3 to 6μm; peak
Sensitivity: 5 μm.
 Pbx Sn1-x Te : sensitivity=> 8 to 13μm; peak
sensitivity: 12μm.
• Pb Ti O3: Pyroelectric detector=> high sensitivity, high
stability & operative at room temperature.(without N2)
 OPERATION:
Chopper is inserted in front of IR radiation detector.
IR radys from body & black body enters detector surface
thro optical focusing system.
The cassegrain optical system collects extremely low
energy IR radiations emanating from skin surface.
Black body is connected with another thermal sensor for
compensating.
O/p from detector is amplified ->phase sensitive detector.
Then to analog or digital meter & absolute temperature of
an object is calibrated & displayed.
Scanning time=> 1 or 2 sec for 600 scanning lines with
horizontal resolution of more than 600 elements/line.
Temperature resolution < 0.07°c at 1 milliradian of visual
angle.
 CHARECTERISTICS
THERMOGRAPHIS EQUIPMENTS:
• Short frame time (< 4secs)
• High resolution (>100,000 picture elements)
• Small size light weight optical head.
• Wide spectrum band detector near the wavelength of
10 microns.
• Easy to handle.
• Data for analyzing can be taken simultaneously in
object thermograms.
• Contain interfaces for image processing.
• Absolute temperature measurable.
 There are 2 types of IR cameras for medical purpose:
• High-speed: shortens picture taking time, incapable of measuring absolute temperature.
• High-resolution: superior to high-speed in terms of temperature resolution & image
resolution
EXAMPLES:
Infra-eye, Thermoscope, Thermoviewer, Thermocamera & infra vision.
Operation:
• Special IR camera => scans the object & a display unit for displaying the thermal picture
on screen
• Camera contains optical system in the form of an oscillating flat plane mirror-> scans the
field of view at very high speed horizontally &vertically & focuses IR radiations onto the
chopper.
• a.c signals are modulated & demodulated further.
• These are given to CRT in synch with scanning mechanism.
 LIQUID CRYSTAL
THERMOGRAPHY:
• Liquid crystals -> compounds that exhibit color-temp
sensitivity in cholesteric phase.
• Scattering effect with material gives rise to iridescent
colors; wavelength is influenced by small temperature
changes.
• Temperature sensitivity makes cholesteric liquid crystals
useful for thermal mapping.
• RED=>low temp. regions to VIOLET=>high temp. regions.
• For IR: VIOLET=>low temp. regions to VIOLET=>high
temp. regions.
 MICROWAVE THERMOGRAPHY:
• Modern microwave radiometers detect temp. change of
0.1K.
• Skin is transparent &so can radiations extend to few cms
depth in the skin.
• Using microwave receiver with freq response from 1.7GHz
to 2.5 GHz->penetration depth =1cm in tissues, 8cm in fat&
bone.
• Problem: emissivity of body=> part of radiation is reflected
back-> error -> corrected by adding artificial microwave
noise providing balance btw receiver &body surface.
 MEDICAL APPLICATIONS:
 INFLAMMATION:
• Inflammated skin shows high temperature coz of
active metabolism & increase in local blood flow.
• Tumors although easily cooled take time to recover
the temp. while inflammation recovers soon.
• Due to intake of antibiotics local temp drops.

 DISEASESOF PHERIPERAL VESSALS:

• When arteries gets blocked blood flow of
peripheral vessels either decreases or disappears->
low temp.
 BURNS:
1st we have to decide the degree of sensitivity .1st degree
burns register higher temp.3rd degree burns-> temp 2-3°c
lower than normal value due to absence of blood flow.

 SKIN GRAFTS & ORGAN TRANSPLANTATION:

Detected by blood flow, in kidney transplantation
rejection causes a high temp. while malfunction of
transplanted organs leads to low temp.

 ORTHOPEDIC DISEASES:
Fractures, arthritis, bruises & sprains can be diagnosed by
local temp. increase.