Grayscale Thermographic Imaging

Abstract

Through the measurement and interpretation of the pixels of grayscale digital thermographic images of abnormalities of the skin and its subcutaneous tissue, early intervention and treatment of abnormalities of the skin and its subcutaneous tissue are possible, thereby assisting clinicians in making significant impacts on prevention and treatment.

1 . A method of detecting abnormalities in mammalian skin and subcutaneous tissue, said method comprising the steps of: providing a infrared imaging device; defining a first skin area on a mammal; acquiring a long-wave infrared image of said first skin area from said predetermined distance using said imaging device; defining a profile line within said skin area; defining a pixel value for a predetermined range of temperatures in said first skin area; and displaying a graph of pixel values along said line. 
     
     
         2 . A method of detecting abnormalities in mammalian skin and subcutaneous tissue, said method comprising the steps of: providing a infrared imaging device; defining a first skin area on a mammal; acquiring a long-wave infrared image of said first skin area from said predetermined distance using said imaging device; defining a profile line within said first skin area; defining a pixel value for a predetermined range of temperatures in said first skin area; displaying a graph of pixel values along said line; defining a second skin area on a mammal; acquiring a long-wave infrared image of said second skin area from said predetermined distance using said imaging device; defining a profile line within said second skin area; defining a pixel value for a predetermined range of temperatures in said first skin area; displaying a graph of pixel values along said line; and graphically comparing said first pixel graph to said second pixel graph.