Infrared Thermal Challenge Capture for Reliable Surface Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for administering a temperature challenge to evoke infrared data changes in medical research and clinical applications are not standardized and reliable, leading to inconsistent and inaccurate infrared data capture.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a reservoir with a conduit or canopy to deliver a medium at a predetermined temperature, coupled with an infrared camera and processor to capture and analyze infrared image data at multiple timings, ensuring controlled and reproducible thermal challenges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional loose methods (ice, cold water, cold air, or mists) are used to administer temperature challenge, then the procedure is simple and easy to perform, but the infrared data capture becomes inconsistent and inaccurate due to lack of standardization
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the temperature challenge delivery into controlled components: a reservoir for the cold medium, a conduit system with specific geometry (length, diameter, material properties) to deliver the medium, and a standardized application protocol. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized and controlled independently, ensuring reproducible results while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention standardizes critical parameters including conduit material thermal properties, conduit dimensions, cold medium temperature, flow rate, and application duration. By controlling these parameters within defined ranges, the system achieves reliable and reproducible infrared data capture while keeping the procedure straightforward to perform.
2Measurement precision
If standardized controlled methods are implemented to improve infrared data reliability, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases due to additional equipment and protocols
Solution Approach 1:
The conduit serves multiple functions simultaneously: it delivers the cold medium from the reservoir to the target area, acts as a thermal transfer medium itself, provides a standardized geometry for reproducible results, and can be made from materials with specific infrared transmission properties. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized components, maintaining simplicity while achieving precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The conduit acts as an intermediary element that mediates between the cold medium source and the target tissue. By standardizing the conduit's thermal and geometric properties, it provides a controlled interface that ensures consistent thermal delivery without requiring complex control systems or multiple specialized components.
3Ease of operation
If environmental factors are not isolated, then the system remains simple and easy to operate, but the accuracy of thermal response evaluation deteriorates due to external interference
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a flexible drape or shield that can be positioned around the target area to isolate it from environmental factors such as ambient temperature variations, air currents, and radiation from surrounding objects. This flexible barrier maintains simplicity of operation while effectively creating a controlled microenvironment for accurate thermal measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates an inert or controlled environment around the target area during infrared analysis, isolating it from harmful environmental factors. This is achieved through the flexible drape/shield that encloses the measurement area, preventing external thermal interference while keeping the setup simple and easy to deploy.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise and reliable infrared analysis by isolating the target surface from environmental factors, allowing for accurate qualitative and quantitative evaluation of thermal responses.
Implementation Method 1
an infrared camera(s) operable to capture infrared image data of the target surface region
Implementation Method 2
a conduit defining a channel for transmitting the medium from the reservoir to the target surface region
Data Source
AI summary
A system for infrared analysis of a target surface region of a subject includes a reservoir containing a medium at a predetermined temperature and a conduit defining a channel for transmitting the medium from the reservoir to the target surface region. The conduit may have a first end that is attached to an outlet of the reservoir and a second end that is flexibly conformable to a shape corresponding to a perimeter of the target surface region. The system may further include an infrared camera(s) operable to capture infrared image data of the target surface region and one or more processors operable to produce a representation of the captured infrared image data at a plurality of timings relative to the transmission of the medium from the reservoir to the target surface region. Adjunctive reflective surfaces may ensure that IR signals from target geometric surfaces can be captured for analysis.