• Space Shuttle Processing Status Report
  Spaceflight Now, FL - Feb 28, 2004
  ... All of Atlantis' Reinforced Carbon-Carbon (RCC) panels were removed, shipped
  to the vendor for inspection and thermography, and returned to KSC for ...

• Full steam ahead for Cheyenne
  Yachting World, UK - Feb 28, 2004
  ... We also used an infrared camera that looks like a video camera but sees in
  the infra red spectrum, distinguishing between hot and cold objects. ...

• Nation / World
  Birmingham Post Herald, AL - Feb 26, 2004
  ... The Oak Ridge team tested the technique — infrared thermography — on 40 ... Researchers
  used an infrared camera capable of detecting temperature changes of 15 ...

• Fast ferry was built with Rochester and 9-11 in mind
  WHEC-TV, NY - Feb 17, 2004
  ... An infrared camera detects anything remotely different on the water including ice
  and small boats and the security camera system can follow anyone, anywhere on ...

• Dark Age for astronomy as Hubble's window on the universe begins ...
  Independent, UK - Feb 16, 2004
  ... One of the instruments that would be placed on the telescope is a new
  infrared camera which would be perfect for the work we want to do. ...

• Consumer Watch Great Electric Grills
  KFOXtv.com, TX - Feb 16, 2004
  ... Testers use an infrared camera to see how evenly the grills heat. After preheating
  the grills, a picture is taken. All of them scored very well. ...

• No More Sweaty Feet Thanks to Adidas.....and ThermaCAM® Infrared ...
  Process & Control Today, UK - Feb 16, 2004

• Note space program spinoffs
  Oregonian, OR - Feb 15, 2004
  Artificial heart, balance evaluation systems, infrared camera, jewelry design, land-mine
  removal device, prosthesis material, vehicle tracking system, video ...

• Jefferson City area firms offer mold remediation, prevention for ...
  Jefferson City News Tribune, MO - Feb 13, 2004
  ... said. Turner uses thermal imaging cameras to detect trapped moisture
  behind walls. The company also uses sensitive moisture meters. ...

• American Armature alternates owners
  Tiffin Advertiser Tribune, OH - Feb 12, 2004
  ... converter,'' he said. Also new is the use of thermal imaging to show
  hot spots or defects in motors or the controls themselves. "It can ...

• Thermal Imagery Tracks Down Diseased Cells
  KTVU.com, CA - Feb 6, 2004
  Recent studies show infrared- or thermal imaging can spot breast cancer years before
  a lump develops or can quickly ease one's fears by showing that a lump is ...

Our message boards have been busy. Here is a selection of recent new threads by IR Community members. Feel free to click the links, see how people have responded, and post your own response if you like.

• Electrical Distribution Arrestors
  Looking for anyone with experience scanning electrical distribution type lightning arrestors. Is it possible to determine expected failures at specified high temperature extremes?
  Any help is greatly appreciated.

• Front car window temperature profile--HELP!!
  One manufacturer of car windows ask to me to inspected the temperature loss of car front window when this window travels thru conveyor after leaving a furnace in the process.. the window is sandwich type, means that all front cars windows are 2 glass layers (1/8")and in the middle plastic film which prevents that shatter fly away when crash occurs. The conveyor is 45 feet long and this guys want to see how temperature drops from beginning to end of line. (after furnace and before the next process) My concern is that the material to be inspected is transparent GLASS. I will try to determine if it is possible to paint one window from scrap to make test. Any ideas will be appreciated.

• Infrared Imaging
  I am trying to make a uniform light sheet from LASER in the infrared range . The wavelength range is from 8-12 um. Can anybody suggest what kind of material can be used

• How to do to start a business?
  I am working as electrician for 20 years and I am really interested by extending my knowledge with the thermography. I had already taken some information but if any one could give me some helpful advices to start my own company, it will be great. electrical predictive maintenance)
  I am working in heavy industries on/offshore, and I realize how I could make one step ahead in my career. I actually work 28on/28off, so I have free period to do some training and research.

• Brain thermography
  I understand that FLIR is working with hospitals for thermography research at brain surgery, is there a site where i can found some images, or if you have some I will appreciate if you give me some at info@thermoimagen.com

• Thermography at -30
  We are doing some brainstorming up here in the artic, and would like some help. Does anyone have some good ideas at doing thermography in temp -30 to -60. The operating temperature for our camera is -15 to 50C. We are wanting to do analysis on experimental hydraulic motors operating at a mine, located inside the artic circle. Waiting till summer is not a viable option.

• Evaluation of Rooftop Garden or other reflective heat treatments?
  I am working with a graduate student doing his thesis on the effectiveness of different types of roofing systems designed to mitigate the heat island effect in large urban areas. He is primarily interested in rooftop gardens, and since the vast majority of literature he's run across tends toward the anecdotal, he'd like to design some experiments to quantify their effectiveness and perhaps compare a few different designs to some control standard.

  The problem is that we're located in a rural area on the coast in the Pacific Northwest. The heat island effect is a mere figment of our imagination in these parts, so we'll have to construct an indoor simulation using a couple of 1000W HPS lights and small (say 3x3 foot) mini-roof systems built on carts.

  The thrust of the experiment isn't so much to prove that one roof system is more effective than any other so much as it is to show that IRT is one means by which we can move beyond the anecdotal to provide a quantitative means of verifying that such systems can in fact be effective.

  I'm curious as to whether anybody can't point to any related research, anything at all involving the use of IRT to evaluate the thermal performance of building envelope features, specifically roofing if possible, in a lab setting. It will be useful not just for the experiment design but in order to ensure that this guy's thesis has a comprehensive literature review.

• Bare process piping & corrosion under insulation
  I'm using FLIR ThermaCAM.

  Q1. Is there a way whereby we can interpret the color variances on the bare process piping into wall thickness (mm)?

  Q2. Has there been any study on corrosion under insulation? If any, could someone out there send me the documentation/application concerned?

• Transparent material used for an infared region?
  I need to burn small fire inside a transparent enclosure, apparently glass is not good because of the reflection. is there any other transparent material I can use to make an enclosure and IR camera can detect the fire inside of it?

• thermography at welding applications
  do anybody have some info about this topic? where i can read something about?..

• Voice Comment
  After saving an IR image and voice comment on my camera, I then downloaded the files to a laptop. I can't hear or locate the voice comment on the laptop but the image is fine. The camera is a p40, Thank You for any help.

• STATOR COIL CONNECTIONS
  I have a client here who has requested me to scan stator coils connections at the exciter and turbine ends to locate overheating joints. This scan is basically to be done after they are through with a rewinding job on the generator.

  Would you have any examples regarding similar jobs you may have done previously that can add value to my scanning.? If so, kindly please forward via email.

  Personally I was thinking of setting up the equipment at either end of the generator (the coil connections are clearly visible from either end), and requesting them to run the machine while I save images (definitely after doing the right settings for the scanner).

• Temperature Calculations
  I seem to recall a formula to estimate the projected temp. increase of a connection running at a fraction of it's rated capacity if the capacity is increased "X". . Eg. ... fuse clips running at 42 deg.C at 24% of rated current. What would be the projected temp. increase if the current draw was doubled, tripled... Any guidance appreciated.

• Thermography and Fuses???
  How would you explain to an electrical manager that you must analyze a fuse/fuse block differently than you would a generic connection?

• Skin vs Insulation Temp
  Does anyone have any knowledge or references on figuring out the temp of the insulation of a motor based on skin temp of the motor.

  What is expectable for the skin temp of a motor with F insulation class?

• Thermography in Fired Heaters
  When gathering data to calculate emissivity for tubes in fired heaters should we try to gain the flame temperature as this is likely to be the highest reflected temperature seen on the heater tubes. This is going to be significantly higher than the surrounding refractory temperature.

• Operation in Highly Magnetic field
  Is it affect the operation of the ThermoVision camera, while working in highly magnetic field such as in DC high voltage area. We are in doubt, If anybody can clarify, please? We have AGEMA-550 camera.

• Electric motors & pumps
  I need any information on IR applicable to electric motors and pumps. Does the size of the motor influence running temperature? Do load on the motor make a difference to running temperature and if so how? Bearing temperatures in working conditions? How does the material pumped influence working temperatures?

  I am doing 2 weekly inspections on 200kw electric motors turning slurry pumps via belts. The motor is mounted on top of the pumps with a pulley on the drive end. Gold slurry is being pumped 24 hours per day.

• Furnace Tubes
  I know how to measure skin temps through oil fired and natural gas fired burners but I tried to measure through an oxygen burner flame and could not see through this flame with an Agema 550. How would I go about taking measurements through this type of flame. Does it require a different filter or is there some other form of adjustment.

• Mechanical stress on pipe flanges Needs a response, can anyone help?
  I am interested by any document, advice, etc, concerning the possible use of infrared thermography for the detection of badly mounted mechanical flanges, inducing an excess of stress and a high risk of rupture. This concerns more particularly pipes transporting highly flammable liquid.

• Info. downloads
  Is there a place I can download some info.... an intro. To the ir camera for moisture detection that I can put on my reports to realtors? Or maybe an info. for many different applications?

And of course if YOU have a question or want to start a discussion on a topic, we would love to hear from you. Just post a new thread on a message board.

by Tirza Derflinger, The Thermogram Center and
Dr. Robert Kane, International Academy of Clinical Thermology

Medical infrared imaging (MII) is becoming a common screening modality in the areas of neuromusculoskeletal injury, cancer, and circulatory pathology. As a physiological imaging modality that assesses body function, it can indicate developing disease states – and breast cancer – earlier than anatomical examinations. It is highly accurate and 100% safe, involving no radiation or contact.

MII is helpful for chronic pain, disease processes, and monitoring treatment effectiveness on physiology. MII can help to identify sources of pain, particularly those involving the neuromuscular and circulatory systems. Additionally, because every organ reflects itself on the skin surface, organ stress/compromise can be monitored. If disease processes are present, thermographic signs may present themselves before symptoms become apparent, enabling early intervention and treatment.

The FDA approved the technology for adjunctive breast cancer screening in 1982, and it has been recognized as a viable diagnostic tool since 1987 by the AMA council on Scientific Affairs, the ACA Council on Diagnostic Imaging and the Congress of Neuro-Surgeons since 1988, and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation since 1990. Research indicates that it is extremely effective in diagnosing most types of back, neck, and limb pain, especially latent or intractable types of pain syndromes.

Four ways in which MII services help physicians and their breast patients:

• offers a breast screening option for women reluctant to radiation methods

• enables very early breast cancer detection – even with negative mammogram

• provides compelling physiological data useful in determining the necessity for biopsy following suspicious/inconclusive mammogram

• monitors estrogen activity in the breasts

The breast imaging procedure is based on the principle that chemical and blood vessel activity in both pre-cancerous tissue and the area surrounding a developing breast cancer is almost always higher than in the normal breast. Since pre-cancerous and cancerous masses are highly metabolic tissues, they need an abundant supply of nutrients to maintain their growth. In order to do this they increase circulation to their cells by secreting chemicals to keep existing blood vessels open, recruit dormant vessels, and create new ones (neoangiogenesis). This process results in an increase in regional surface temperatures of the breast.

State-of-the-art applications use ultra-sensitive infrared cameras and sophisticated computers to detect, analyze, and produce high-resolution diagnostic images of these temperature and vascular changes.

 
Click images to see higher resolution versions

This 35 year-old patient (above) had a normal mammogram the month prior to infrared imaging. Armed with a diagnostic report including severely abnormal findings in the right breast, the patient requested a biopsy and discovered Stage I cancer with a 1cm lump, a second smaller lump, and lymph node involvement. Chemotherapy was initiated. (Note two abnormal thermal findings consistent with cancer: vascular signs of neoangiogenesis, shown in grayscale, and abnormally-high temperatures, shown in color.)

 


This patient was scheduled for biopsy of the left outer breast, which showed no thermal findings of excess heat or vascular markings. As a result, additional anatomical exams were ordered. Their findings supported the thermal findings and the patient was spared the biopsy procedure. Note the excess of heat and vascular markings of the right breast, circled. These findings are abnormal and are being monitored closely by infrared imaging.

“… 80% of biopsies yield benign results…” Source: Radiology Today, v3no7

By carefully examining aspects of temperature and blood vessels of the breasts, signs of possible cancer or pre-cancerous cell growth may be detected up to 10 years prior to being discovered using any other procedure. This provides the earliest detection of cancer possible. Because of infrared imaging’s extreme sensitivity, these temperature variations and vascular changes may be among the earliest signs of breast cancer and/or a pre-cancerous state of the breast. (3,6,7,8,9)

Thermal studies of the breast have been researched for over 30 years, and over 800 peer-reviewed studies exist in the index-medicus. Over 3,000 articles are accessible through MedLine. Over 300,000 women have been included as study participants, with many studies including 37,000 to 118,000 women. Some of these studies have followed patients up to 12 years.

Studies show that:

• Infrared imaging of the breasts has an average sensitivity and specificity of 90%.

• An abnormal infrared image is the single most important marker of high risk for developing breast cancer, 8 times more significant than a first order family history of the disease (5).

• A persistent abnormal thermogram caries with it a 22x higher risk of future breast cancer.

• When added to a woman's regular breast health checkups, a 61% increased survival rate has been realized.

• Finally, when used as part of a multimodal approach (clinical examination + mammography + infrared imaging) 95% of early stage cancers will be detected.

In the absence of other positive tests, an abnormal infrared image gives a woman early warning and the need for intervention, or change in lifestyle, diet, or other breast health factors. By maintaining close monitoring of her breast health with serial infrared imaging, a woman can monitor breast health and has a much better chance of detecting cancer at its earliest stage and preventing invasive tumor growth.

Since infrared imaging does not have the ability to pinpoint specific tumor locations, it’s role is in addition to mammography and physical examination: the tests are not substitutes for each other. Because 1 in 8 women will get breast cancer, we must use every means possible to detect cancers when there is the greatest chance for survival (1).

The addition of infrared imaging to the frontline of early breast cancer detection brings a great deal of good news for women.

For more information, visit www.thermogramcenter.com or www.iact-org.org.
For case studies, visit http://www.pacificchiro.com/pacific_chiropractic_and_research/publications_page.htm. For extensive information on breast imaging, visit www.breastthermography.com.

Tirza and Dr. Kane can be reached at 303-664-1139 and 650-568-9292 respectively.

References

1. American Cancer Society – Breast Cancer Guidelines and Statistics, 1999

2. I. Nyirjesy, M.D. et al; Clinical Evaluation, Mammography and Thermography in the Diagnosis of Breast Carcinoma. Thermology, 1986; 1: 170-173.

3. M. Gautherie, Ph.D.; Thermobiological Assessment of Benign and Malignant Breast Diseases. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol., 1983; V 147, No. 8: 861-869.

4. C. Gros, M.D., M. Gautherie, Ph.D.; Breast Thermography and Cancer Risk Prediction. Cancer, 1980; V 45, No. 1: 51-56.

5. P. Haehnel, M.D., M. Gautherie, Ph.D. et al; Long-Term Assessment of Breast Cancer Risk by Thermal Imaging. In: Biomedical Thermology, 1980; 279-301.

6. P. Gamigami, M.D.; Atlas of Mammography: New Early Signs in Breast Cancer. Blackwell Science, 1996.

7. J. Keyserlingk, M.D.; Time to Reassess the Value of Infrared Breast Imaging? Oncology News Int., 1997; V 6, No. 9.

8. P.Ahlgren, M.D., E. Yu, M.D., J. Keyserlingk, M.D.; Is it Time to Reassess the Value of Infrared Breast Imaging? Primary Care & Cancer (NCI), 1998; V 18, No. 2.

9. N. Belliveau, M.D., J. Keyserlingk, M.D. et al ; Infrared Imaging of the Breast: Initial Reappraisal Using High-Resolution Digital Technology in 100 Successive Cases of Stage I and II Breast Cancer. Breast Journal, 1998; V 4, No. 4

Editor's note: Tirza and Dr. Kane each receive an InfraMation Executive Attaché in appreciation for their article contribution.

Brainteaser of the Month  [top]

Here is this month's brainteaser. First reader to email me with the correct explanation of the thermogram receives a gift from ITC. Please put "Brainteaser" as the subject of the message.

Click here to email your guess

Do you have an interesting image that you think would stump other thermographers? If so please email me your image (preferably in native .img, .jpg, .tif, .tgw, or .tmw format) with an accompanying visible photo and explanation. If your image is used, you receive a gift as well.

Well here it is folks, the machine that "really cuts the fat". And it's so easy to use you just "set it and forget it". What else could this be but the Ronco "Showtime Rotisserie and BBQ Oven"? And for 5 easy payments of $19.99 you can have one too! And it even cooks by IR. What a perfect gift for that thermographer on your list!

Thanks to Dan Sinclair for the thermogram and congratulations to last month's winner, Clay Boyd of Duke Energy. Dan and Clay each receive a special low emissivity traveling coffee mug.

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