Mariusz Kaczmarek

Thermal Parametric Imaging in the Evaluation of Skin Burn Depth

The aim of this paper is to determine the extent to which infrared (IR) thermal imaging may be used for skin burn depth evaluation. The analysis can be made on the basis of the development of a thermal model of the burned skin. Different methods such as the traditional clinical visual approach and the IR imaging modalities of static IR thermal imaging, active IR thermal imaging and active-dynamic IR thermal imaging (ADT) are analyzed from the point of view of skin burn depth diagnostics. In ADT, a new approach is proposed on the basis of parametric image synthesis. Calculation software is implemented for single-node and distributed systems. The properties of all the methods are verified in experiments using phantoms and subsequently in vivo with animals with a reference histopathological examination. The results indicate that it is possible to distinguish objectively and quantitatively burns which will heal spontaneously within three weeks of infliction and which should be treated conservatively from those which need surgery because they will not heal within this period

Color transformation methods for dichromats

Color blindness is a serious perception problem. Suffering individuals cannot understand messages, which are carrying by many images, especially those, distributed by WWW. In this paper we are proposing three image processing methods to enhance image recognition and understanding by persons with dichromacy. Color difference image is introduced to represent color perception dissimilarity. Two color transformation methods are presented. Results of tests proved the usefulness of the methods for fast color transformation of images in the WWW environment.

Active dynamic infrared thermal imaging in burn depth evaluation.

The aim of this study was to find the relationship between active dynamic thermography (ADT) with cold excitation and burn depth. This new modality of evaluation of burns seems to be an attractive proposal for quantitative classification, allowing proper choice of burn wound treatment: conservative or surgical, especially compared with static thermography. The work was an in vivo experiment on domestic pigs, and a small number of patients were also diagnosed as part of the study. Statistical analysis showed a high correlation between the ADT synthetic parameter—thermal time constant, &tgr;—and the classification of burn wounds that were predicted to heal within 3 weeks and so were treated conservatively and those that were predicted to not heal within 3 weeks and so were surgically treated. The results of the study show an accuracy of 60.7% for clinical evaluation, 69.6% for static thermography, 83.0% for ADT, and 84.0% for histopathologic assessment. The authors have concluded that the ADT method with cold excitation is suitable for the qualitative and quantitative assessment of burn depth.

Active dynamic thermography in cardiosurgery

The aim of this study is development and analysis of applicability of new tools for continuous inspection of open-heart cardio-surgical interventions, suitable in clinical environment. Our notice is concentrated on IR-thermal imaging for monitoring of invasive surgical interventions as CABG in treatment of ischaemia and other heart malfunctions. In this presentation preliminary results of in-vivo experiments on animals with the use of IR thermal camera and newly developed procedures of active dynamic thermography are discussed.

Optical excitation methods in active dynamic thermography in medical diagnostics

The dynamic thermography technique, extensively used for non-destructive testing in industry, applied to a human body can be very attractive for medical diagnostics purposes. The study presented in this paper introduces methodology of dynamic thermography to applications in medical diagnostics. Review of properties of several excitation sources and techniques as well as some experimental results are given.

Active Dynamic Thermography - Problems of implementation in medical diagnostics

Implementation of the method called Active Dynamic Thermography (ADT) in medical diagnostics of some specific diseases is here discussed. In skin burn diagnostics a method giving objective information what is the burn depth is a real challenge as until now there are not such methods approved in clinical practice. We have shown that ADT is a proper tool to give an answer to the question of non invasive, objective and quantitative determination of burns depth and the severity of a tested wound. The method may be also used to diagnose breast cancer and in some other applications. We implemented in clinics a prototype set based on ADT procedures for skin burn diagnostics. Practical conditions for reliable use of ADT in burn diagnostics are here discussed. The instrumentation and procedures applied in animal experiments and clinical tests are described. Basic problems limiting practical implementation of ADT are underlined. Especially the choice of external excitation seems to be not a trivial task; though we proved a very high importance of cooling.

Simultaneous monitoring of heart performance and respiration activity

An electrode matrix and electronic circuit for simultaneous monitoring heart performance and respiration activity is described in the paper. The heart performance is evaluated basing on a mechanical and electrical activity. The mechanical activity is measured using bioimpedance method while the electrical one using a typical approach, i.e. one channel electrocardiogram is recorded. An electrode matrix exhibiting a relatively low susceptibility to generating so called moving artifacts has been proposed and examined. It was used for measuring both, impedance and electrical signals. Spatial distributions of sensitivity have been calculated, using Finite Element Model, for each type of measurement method utilized. Examples of recorded and processed signals are also included. A contamination of the recorded signals by moving artifacts has been evaluated and compared to that obtained when using other configurations of the electrode matrices.

A new diagnostic method for evaluation of cardiosurgery wound healing

One of important and still unsolved problems in medicine is the question of objective and quantitative evaluation of post-surgery wound healing. The aim of this research is to analyse possibility and value of using the newly elaborated infrared imaging procedure – Active Dynamic Thermography (ADT) – for quantitative description of wound healing processes in cardiosurgery. Both, classical thermal figures of merit as well as ADT descriptors are compared from the point of view of objective, quantitative estimation of wound state. Temporal properties of thermal transients are proposed for objective quantitative description of a tested wound and for classification of healing processes as normal or suspected, requesting a special care. Algorithms enabling evaluation of surgical wound healing process are discussed in terms of possible implementation of the method into clinical practice for proper classification of patients for discharging from a hospital and further treatment at home or for prolonged treatment at the hospital.

Active Dynamic Thermography Imaging of Wound Healing Processes in Cardio Surgery

The surgery is a branch of medicine, that is integrally connected to wounds. Despite using sterile tools and compliance with aseptic rolls, some of the surgery wounds become infected. In clinical practice there is a lack of cheap, objective methods and tools for quantitative definition and estimation of the surgery wound healing progress. This paper presents preliminary results of Active Dynamic Thermography (ADT) parametric imaging of sternum surgery wounds. The study was performed in the Clinics of Cardio Surgery at the Medical University of Gdansk. The results are presented in the form of the simplified exponential parameters approximation of examined objects’ thermal response: dT norm and t 90_10 images.

Thermal monitoring of the myocardium under blood arrest preliminary study

A method for monitoring the state of the myocardium during cardiosurgical interventions based on thermal IR imaging is presented. This method called active dynamic thermography (ADT) uses an external excitation source to induce thermal transient processes in a tested object. Recording time series of thermograms allows to calculate parametric images - distribution of the thermal time constant at the visible surface of the myocardium - correlated to the physiology state of tested tissues. In the experiment performed the blood arrest in the left ventricle (causing in longer period heart infarct) was generated by clamping the left anterior descending artery (LAD). During LAD occlusion the ADT procedure was applied using cooling external excitation source. In summary, the calculated time constant images provide data of the tested structure and functional information of myocardium infarct. This allows to track changes in blood flow in the myocardium and inspection of the quality of the intervention during cardiosurgical procedures.