An apparatus for detecting diseased tissue comprising:
- an imager for recording first and second series of infrared images of a predetermined area of tissue, the first and second series of infrared images recorded in respective first and second bands of infrared wavelengths, the second band of infrared wavelengths different from the first band of infrared wavelengths;
- a converter for converting the first and second series of infrared images into corresponding first and second series of thermal images having a plurality of subareas;
- a processor for determining a first plurality of average temperature values and a first plurality of temperature standard deviations for each of the plurality of subareas, each of the first plurality of average temperature values and each of the first plurality of temperature standard deviations corresponding to each of the plurality of subareas determined from a corresponding one of the first series of thermal images, the processor for determining a second plurality of average temperature values and a second plurality of temperature standard deviations for each of the plurality of subareas, each of the second plurality of average temperature values and each of the second plurality of temperature standard deviations corresponding to each of the plurality of subareas determined from a corresponding one of the second series of thermal images, for each of the plurality of subareas, the processor for dividing each corresponding one of the first plurality of average temperature values by a corresponding one of the first plurality of temperature standard deviations thereby determining a corresponding one of a first plurality of homogeneity of skin temperature values for the plurality of subareas, the processor for determining a first average homogeneity of skin temperature value from the first plurality of homogeneity of skin temperature values, for each of the plurality of subareas, the processor for dividing each corresponding one of the second plurality of average temperature values by a corresponding one of the second plurality of temperature standard deviations thereby determining a corresponding one of a second plurality of homogeneity of skin temperature values for the plurality of subareas, and the processor for determining a second average homogeneity of skin temperature value from the second plurality of homogeneity of skin temperature values;
- and
- an analyzer for analyzing the first and second pluralities of homogeneity of skin temperature values for each of the plurality of subareas,
- wherein when a spatial distribution of first plurality of homogeneity of skin temperature values corresponding to a cluster comprising at least six adjacent subareas is less than about 20% or more than about 100% of the first average homogeneity of skin temperature value, tissue corresponding to the cluster is preliminarily determined to be diseased, and
- wherein when tissue corresponding to the cluster is preliminarily determined to be diseased and when a spatial distribution of second plurality of homogeneity of skin temperature values corresponding to the cluster is less than about 20% or more than about 100% of the second average homogeneity of skin temperature value, tissue corresponding to the cluster is confirmed to be diseased.