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InfraMation 2007 Proceedings
ITC 121A 2007-05-24
Full Body Scan Including Coronary Artery Evaluations
Using FLIR Sensors

Hemchandra M. Shertukde, University of Hartford, CT
Rekha H. Shertukde, Diagnostic Devices Inc. Simsbury, CT



ABSTRACT
Researchers at the University of Hartford and Diagnostic Devices Inc. have developed a new, non-invasive
full body scan procedure using FLIR sensors and cameras to detect structural anomalies in the different
organs of the human body. The scans do not disrupt the internal functions and conditions of the body, and are
suitable for the evaluations of stenoses in the carotid, coronary, and other critical arteries.

A single shot of the section of the body in question is obtained with a FLIR sensor or camera that can acquire
IR signals in the SWIR, MWIR, or LWIR wavelengths. Then, a low wattage IR lamp is placed next to the body
to create a temperature differential. Peripheral arteries are then examined for abnormalities and clots that
could be catastrophic if they made it to the brain or the heart. Finally, a state-of-the-art signal processor that
uses wavelet transform methodologies to separate signal from noise and generate IR images of structural
abnormalities processes images of different regions of the body. This system can also process images of
tumors, ulcers, and other peripheral vascular regions and anomalies in the physiological structure.

INTRODUCTION
We have developed a new non-invasive full body scan process using FLIR sensors and suitable FLIR
cameras to obtain the structural anomalies in the physiological aspects related to different organs of the
human body such as the carotid artery, coronary arteries, renal artery etc. This procedure is also suitable for
the evaluations of coronary artery stenoses without invading the internal functions and conditions of the
human body.

DESCRIPTION
As shown in Figure 1, a hand-held FLIR camera is used to take a video image of the different parts of the
body. An IR lamp of low wattage is placed at the back of the corresponding part of the body. In this case, the
IR lamp is placed behind the back and the FLIR camera takes the picture from the front of the chest of the
heart. The captured video image is electronically fed into the computer for further manipulation and
processing by the advanced signal processor using wavelet transform methodology to extract signal from the
measurement.

The resulting image is then assessed for different signal strengths at different frequencies. In the next step, a
suitable contour map of the different stenoses is laid out on the screen image highlighting the stenosed part in
the corresponding region. Corrected temperatures using the infrared lamp give the signal processor
important information about what to expect when blockage increases in the peripheral veins. This information
can be used to help evaluate risk of going to higher blockages.

For different areas of the body, the duration and distance of the location of the IR bulb is critical. For the calf
areas where the varicose type veins are generally found, the distance is not as important. However, for the
chest area, the distance as well as the kind of camera used is of critical importance. NIR cameras provide
better results in such area image manipulations.


InfraMation 2007 Proceedings
ITC 121A 2007-05-24


Figure 1.
Hand-held FLIR camera focused on the torso of a human


WHAT CAN BE TREATED?
The following symptoms can be treated by physicians:
1. Stenoses in carotid artery or coronary artery or similar critical arteries carrying blood supply to critical
organs like the brain, heart, etc.
2. A single shot of the related part of the body is obtained using an FLIR sensor or a FLIR camera
suitable to obtain IR signals in the SWIR, MWIR, or LWIR wavelengths.
3. A low wattage IR lamp is placed behind the human body to create the related temperature difference
necessary to be evaluated by the suitable FLIR sensor.
4. Evaluation of peripheral artery abnormalities to detect and locate blood clots that may burgeon into
catastrophic conditions if they travel to the heart.
5. Pictures of the different parts of the body are then processed by the state-of-the-art signal processor
using advanced wavelet transform methodologies to separate signal from noise to generate the
structural abnormalities that can help to prevent fatal conditions.
6. This system can be used to also process images of tumors, ulcers, other peripheral vascular regions
and other anomalies in the physiological structure.

This system is extremely handy in real-time and physicians can make therapeutic decisions for treatment of
patients instantaneously at sight.

An IR bulb of low wattage is placed at the back of the human body. This is to facilitate the creation of an
artificial IR source that will help to illuminate the corresponding parts of the body under investigation. The data
image acquired is fed into a high-end microcomputer with advanced Wavelet Transform (WT) Signal
processing software WTPDDDI2000 that de-noises the image and makes it suitable for an over read by a
physician for future therapeutic conclusions. The signal processor was developed by us and is sold as a
separate package as a part of the suite of products offered by Diagnostic Devices Inc., located in Simsbury,
CT and solely owned by the authors.


InfraMation 2007 Proceedings
ITC 121A 2007-05-24
FLIR scans are generally used to get the surface temperatures of the different peripheral structures of the
human body, such as the face, hands etc. Rarely can a signature from vital organs of the body, such as the
heart or the carotid artery, be obtained without making use of the black body radiation principle. In the system
that we have developed, we have made use of this principle by adding an additional source behind the
respective human organ without heating the body and without causing pain and discomfort to the patient.
Initial results are encouraging because the system is non-invasive.

The discomfort that is minimally felt by the patient is easily overcome by the use of suitable sunscreen and
can be treated with sunburn cream if any signs persist. On actual testing, the incremental increase in the
temperature was only 3-5 degrees on the surface of the skin. The beauty of this system is that one can
actually see the workings of the internal organs and the details related to the related stenoses on-line in a
dynamic situation. This system is extremely handy because it allows physicians to make therapeutic decisions
for treating patients almost instantaneously.

SUMMARY
We have collected some pictures of the human torso to make therapeutic decisions and have found that with
the use of the WT processor, the resolution has improved by 25%. Some of the raw images are shown below:



Figure 2.
Hand-held FLIR camera focused on the torso of a human in the video mode.


REFERENCES
Rekha H. Shertukde and Hemchandra M. Shertukde, USPTO PPA Application # 60/832,212, filed 7/19/06

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors wish to thank the Infrared Training Center at FLIR Systems, Inc. and the management of
Diagnostic Devices Inc. for providing the resources to make this work possible. We are also grateful for the
support of the engineering department at DDI for the additional data and information for this paper.






InfraMation 2007 Proceedings
ITC 121A 2007-05-24

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Hemchandra M. Shertukde is a Full Professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department in the
College of Engineering technology and Architecture at the University of Hartford, CT, USA.

Rekha H. Shertukde is the President of Diagnostic Devices Inc. in Simsbury CT, USA.