Contralateral Joint Temperature Asymmetry Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical thermal imaging technologies are not sensitive enough to detect minor temperature changes, such as those caused by inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis, and lack an automatic method to distinguish body parts from backgrounds, making it difficult to monitor temperature asymmetry between contralateral joints.
Innovation Solution
A non-invasive system that uses both optical and thermal cameras to capture images of body parts, processes them to detect outline differences, and calculates temperature disparity maps to identify inflammation regions by comparing thermograms and optical images, allowing for the detection of functional disorders like arthritis without the need for background elimination techniques.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If infrared thermal imaging is used to detect temperature changes, then non-invasive temperature mapping is achieved, but measurement precision is insufficient for minor temperature changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the body part into multiple regions of interest (ROIs) and performs temperature comparison between contralateral regions. By segmenting the analysis into specific anatomical regions rather than analyzing the entire body part, the system enhances its ability to detect localized temperature asymmetries that indicate inflammation or pathology.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces optical imaging as an intermediary to precisely identify and locate body part boundaries and features. The optical image serves as a reference guide that helps accurately position thermal measurements on corresponding anatomical structures, thereby improving measurement precision for temperature asymmetry detection.
2Measurement precision
If manual background elimination techniques are used, then temperature mapping accuracy is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges optical imaging and thermal imaging into a single integrated system. The optical image provides anatomical context and boundary definition, while the thermal image provides temperature data. By combining these modalities and automatically aligning them through image registration, the system eliminates the need for separate manual background elimination procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs automatic image registration and body part outlining without requiring manual intervention. The algorithm automatically identifies boundaries, aligns images, and prepares the data for analysis, thereby eliminating cumbersome manual background elimination techniques and improving ease of operation.
3Measurement precision
If manual body part outlining is performed, then temperature asymmetry measurement accuracy is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically outlines body parts and identifies regions of interest through image processing algorithms. The optical image serves as a template that guides automatic boundary detection and anatomical feature identification, eliminating the need for manual outlining while maintaining measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical outlining with automated image processing and pattern recognition algorithms. The system uses computational methods to identify body part boundaries and anatomical features, substituting human manual work with automated digital processing that maintains precision while improving ease of operation.
4Measurement precision
If image registration between optical and thermal images is performed, then temperature asymmetry detection precision is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary image registration by identifying key anatomical landmarks and establishing initial correspondence between optical and thermal images. By pre-aligning the images using prominent features before detailed analysis, the system reduces the computational burden of subsequent processing while maintaining registration precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different registration strategies to different regions of the image. High-precision registration is applied to critical regions where temperature asymmetry is most likely to occur, while less computationally intensive methods are used in peripheral areas, thereby optimizing the balance between precision and processing time.
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 the accurate detection of inflammation and functional disorders by automatically identifying temperature asymmetry between contralateral body parts, facilitating early disease detection and eliminating the need for cumbersome background elimination methods, thus improving monitoring capabilities for conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.
Implementation Method 1
Infrared thermal imaging is a preferable and useful way to record temperature maps because it is a non-invasive and non-contact technology that acquires thermal images based on the emitted heat (thermal energy) from the body.
Implementation Method 2
A non-invasive system that uses both optical and thermal cameras to capture images of body parts
Data Source
AI summary
System, apparatus, and method for automatic detection of arthritis according to temperature asymmetry estimation in contralateral joints is presented. Simultaneously recorded thermogram and the optical image of an inspected joint and its contralateral joint are sent to the processing unit, where they are stored, processed, and analyzed. The system, apparatus, and method automatically detects outlines of joints in thermograms and optical images. Grid of points of interest is distributed inside the inspected and the contralateral joint's outline. Temperature maps are calculated according to both grids points and the temperature disparity map is estimated. The set of inflammation regions is obtained by analyzing the temperature disparity map and collecting adjacent points containing temperature differences surpassing the threshold. The system, apparatus, and method are non-invasive and non-contact, and suitable for real world environments with natural home or health care institutions background.