Uterine Cervix
 
Ginekol Pol 1998 Dec;69(12):1268-72
[Infrared thermographic imaging of normal vulva and
uterine cervix: a preliminary report].
[Article in Polish] Sikorski R, Smaga A, Paszkowski T, Walczak R; Kliniki Ginekologii II Katedry Poloznictwa i Chorob Kobiecych Wydzialu Lekarskiego AM w Lublinie.
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate in the standardized conditions the thermal emission by normal uterine cervix and vulva. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Infrared telethermography (ITT) was used to examine vulva and uterine cervix in 32 women aged 24-54 years without colposcopic and cytologic abnormalities. RESULTS: The measured temperatures differed between different topographic points of vulva and uterine vaginal portio. The inter-individual variability of temperatures determined at the same vulvar structures was relatively low. CONCLUSION: The obtained results constitute a basis for further studies on thermovisual definition of therapeutic targets in cases of vulvar and cervical lesions.

Deep Vein Thrombosis:
 
Proceedings - 19th International Conference - IEEE/EMBS Oct. 30-Nov. 2, 1997 Chicago , IL
Is DVT Excluded by Normal Thermal Imaging? - An Outcome Study of 700 Cases.
Harding, J. Richard; Barnes, Kathryn M.; Department of Clinical Radiology, St Woolos Hospital, Glan Hafren NHS Trust, Newport, Gwent, U.K.
In view of the many advantages compared with venography or Doppler ultrasound, and the ability to avoid the necessity for over one third of these investigations, thermal imaging should be considered the initial investigation of choice in clinically suspected DVT, proceeding to venography or Doppler ultrasound only when thermal imaging is positive. There are risks and disadvantages to the most commonly utilised conventional tests for DVT, over one third of which examinations can be avoided by performing thermal imaging as the initial investigation, which excludes DVT when normal. This outcome study followed up patients with clinically suspected DVT who were not further investigated or treated following normal thermal imaging, and showed that no patients developed PE (pulmonary embolism) following normal thermography with no further investigation for DVT and withholding of anticoagulant therapy.

Dentistry:
 
Eur J Orthod 1999 Apr;21(2):111-8
Thermal image analysis of electrothermal debonding of ceramic brackets: an in vitro study.
Cummings M, Biagioni P, Lamey PJ, Burden DJ; Division of Orthodontics, School of Clinical Dentistry, Queen's University of Belfast, UK.
This study used modern thermal imaging techniques to investigate the temperature rise induced at the pulpal well during thermal debonding of ceramic brackets. Ceramic brackets were debonded from vertically sectioned premolar teeth using an electrothermal debonding unit. Ten teeth were debonded at the end of a single 3-second heating cycle. For a further group of 10 teeth, the bracket and heating element were left in contact with the tooth during the 3-second heating cycle and the 6-second cooling cycle. The average pulpal wall temperature increase for the teeth debonded at the end of the 3-second heating cycle was 16.8 degrees C. When the heating element and bracket remained in contact with the tooth during the 6-second cooling cycle an average temperature increase of 45.6 degrees C was recorded.

Dentomaxillofac Radiol 1998 Mar;27(2):68-74
Thermology and facial telethermography: Part II. Current and future clinical applications in dentistry.
Gratt BM, Anbar M Section of Oral Radiology, UCLA School of Dentistry 90095-1668, USA.
Selected clinical applications using thermal imaging as an aid in dentistry are reviewed. Facial skin temperature can easily be measured in a clinical setting, without direct skin contact, by monitoring the emitted infrared radiation. This is the basis of static area telethermography (SAT) and dynamic area telethermography (DAT). SAT has recently been shown to be of help to the dentist in (1) the diagnosis of chronic orofacial pain, (2) as a unique tool in assessment of TMJ disorders, (3) as an aid in assessment of inferior alveolar nerve deficit, and (4) as a promising research tool. DAT, recently made possible by advances in computing technology combined with advanced infrared sensor technology, extracts quantitative information about hemodynamic processes from hundreds to thousands of digital thermal images of the affected facial areas, measured and collected within less than 3 min. DAT has promise of offering a better insight into aberrations of the neuronal control of facial skin perfusion and aiding our understanding of the correlation between orofacial pain and facial thermal abnormalities. This promising new insight may help in the management of orofacial pain.

Med Biol Eng Comput 2000 Jan;38(1):31-4
Analysis of thermal properties of wheelchair cushions with thermography.
Ferrarin M, Ludwig N; Centro di Bioingegneria, Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, IRCCS-Politecnico di Milano, Italy . ferramau@mail.cbi.polimi.it
Thermal properties of wheelchair cushions have been traditionally studied with thermistor probes, which provide temperature values of limited areas (spot analysis). In this paper, we describe a novel procedure based on thermography for assessing the distribution of temperature over the entire surface of wheelchair cushions. The thermal transient during contact with the body (heating phase) and after use (cooling phase) is considered. The procedure was tested in four different seat cushions (with a gel pad, air-filled cells, gel-filled bubbles and foam-filled bubbles) used by a normal subject. Observed results were compatible with the predicted outcomes based on an analysis of the materials and structures. Specifically: (i) air-filled cushions exhibited the fastest thermal transients, gel cushions the slowest transients, while cushions with a mixed structure exhibited intermediate behaviour; (ii) cushions made from flat surfaces of foam exhibited the highest peak temperatures (30.8 degrees C) as compared to those with air-filled cells (30.35 degrees C) or bubble-shaped surfaces (29.7 degrees C); (iii) the average temperature under the thighs was significantly higher than that under the ischiatic area in all cushions (29.6 degrees C compared with 28.7 degrees C, p < 0.05). It is shown that the present method can be used to differentiate between different cushions. Although the 'macro-analysis' inherent in thermography appears to be suited for improving cushion design, this approach should be further investigated to determine its reliability.

Brain sections:
 
APMIS, 1997 Oct; 105(10):801-805
Infrared imaging of human brain sections. A new biomedical application of the thermocamera.
Human brains, removed at routine autopsy, were subjected to neuropathological investigation. The usual gross morphological investigation of the brains was extended to include the detection of their infrared emissions. Fundamental structures, such as the grey and white matter, were separated on the infrared images. Furthermore, pathological processes, such as ischaemic damage, haemorrhage, and sclerotic plaques, hardly seen on the normal photographs, gave a strong signal on the infrared pictures. These pilot experiments demonstrated that infrared detection is a reproducible method in this type of biomedical application, and potentially a very useful tool in macroscopic pathology. Gati I, Papp L, Polgar T, Department of Neurology, University of Pecs Medical School, Hungary.

Burns, plastic surgery:
 
Burns, 1996 Feb;22(1):26-28
Timing of the thermographic assessment of burns. The thermographic assessment of burns using infrared imaging has previously been shown to be a useful aid in the estimation of burn depth. In this study, thermographic images of burns, obtained from 65 patients over a 4-year period, were reviewed. ... The results of this study suggest that thermography of burns, to assess depth, should be performed within 3 days following the injury.

Annals of Plastic Surgery, 1995 May;34(5):507-11.
Recovery enhanced thermography (preapplication of ice followed by image of response) to localize cutaneous perforators. Conclusion: clinically, preoperative recovery-enhanced thermography is useful for the design of perforator-based flaps.

Burns, 1991 Apr;17(2):117-22.
Thermographic assessment of burns using a nonpermeable membrane as wound covering. Thermographic assessment of damage to skin blood vessels caused by thermal injury correlates with healing time of burn wounds. NOTE: clever technique of using PVC film (Saran Wrap or Glad Wrap) shown to abolish the artifacts of evaporative water loss from the wound without interfering with surface imaging.

Burns, 1993 Jun;19(3):187-91.
IV Pluronic F-127 in early burn wound treatment in rats.The non-ionic surfactant Pluronic F-127 shows a positive therapeutic effect on wound closure rates and healing. Between 90 min. and 48 hours postinjury, thermography showed the alterations in the F-127 treated injuries.