3D Thermal Imaging Skin Lesion Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current thermal imaging systems for detecting skin lesions and diseases have limitations in resolution and accuracy, particularly in differentiating between benign and malignant conditions, due to complexities in vascular patterns and thermal gradients.
Innovation Solution
A high-resolution thermal imaging system that combines three-dimensional mapping with infrared imaging, using a data processing system to construct surface and thermal maps, identify markers, and register thermal data to geometrical data for improved accuracy in detecting skin abnormalities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional infrared thermography is used for skin lesion detection, then the imaging process is simple and non-invasive, but the resolution and accuracy are insufficient to reliably differentiate between benign and malignant conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges three-dimensional mapping technology with infrared thermography to create a hybrid imaging system. The 3D mapping component provides precise spatial and geometric information about the skin surface, while the infrared component captures thermal data. By combining these two complementary technologies, the system achieves both high measurement precision for temperature and accurate spatial localization, resolving the contradiction between precision and complexity through functional integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional two-dimensional infrared imaging to three-dimensional thermal imaging by integrating 3D surface mapping. This dimensional enhancement allows the system to capture temperature data across a volumetric representation of the skin surface, providing depth information and improved spatial resolution. The 3D mapping adds a spatial dimension to the thermal data, enabling more accurate differentiation between benign and malignant lesions based on their three-dimensional thermal patterns.
2Reliability
If high-resolution thermal imaging is implemented to improve detection accuracy, then the ability to detect skin cancers is enhanced, but the system complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the imaging system into distinct functional modules: a 3D mapping module for geometric acquisition, an infrared imaging module for thermal data collection, and a data processing module for analysis. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and facilitates parallel processing of spatial and thermal data. The segmented architecture reduces overall system complexity by dividing complex tasks into manageable sub-tasks that can be processed concurrently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a data processing system as an intermediary between the imaging hardware and diagnostic analysis. This intermediary layer includes algorithms that automatically register, align, and analyze the 3D spatial data with thermal data, generating diagnostic outputs. By placing sophisticated processing algorithms in a dedicated intermediary system, the patent isolates the complexity from the imaging hardware, allowing the core detection function to remain relatively simple while still achieving high reliability through intelligent data fusion and analysis.
3Measurement precision
If three-dimensional mapping is combined with infrared imaging, then spatial accuracy and temperature measurement precision are improved, but the scan time and data processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous scanning of both the 3D surface geometry and infrared thermal radiation during the same time period, ensuring that spatial and thermal data are captured simultaneously and continuously. This continuous acquisition approach maintains useful action throughout the scanning process, eliminating idle time between measurements. The continuous scanning enables real-time data fusion and maintains measurement precision while minimizing total scan time through uninterrupted data collection.
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 earlier detection of skin cancers and other abnormalities by providing high-resolution, accurate temperature measurements and metabolic activity analysis, enhancing diagnostic capabilities and reducing false positives.
Implementation Method 1
Infrared thermography is a non-invasive tool that allows the measurement of the spatial and temporal variations of temperature associated with the IR radiation emitted by the object under study, which is the human body
Data Source
AI summary
A thermal imaging system includes a data processing system and a geometrical scanning system constructed to communicate with the data processing system. The geometrical scanning system is adapted to scan at least a section of a surface of a subject under observation. The thermal imaging system also includes an infrared imaging system constructed to communicate with the data processing system. The infrared imaging system is adapted to image at least a portion of the section of the surface of the subject under observation. The data processing system is configured to receive data from the geometrical scanning system and to construct a surface map of the section of the surface of the subject under observation and to identify geometrical markers on the surface map based on the data from the geometrical scanning system. The data processing system is also configured to receive data from the infrared imaging system and to construct a thermal map of the portion of the section of the surface, to identify thermal markers on the thermal map based on the data from the infrared imaging system, and to register the thermal map to the surface map based on a correspondence between at least some of the geometrical and thermal markers. The data processor is configured to correct temperatures of the thermal map based on the surface map subsequent to the registering.