Method apparatus and system for analyzing thermal images
AssigneeReal Imaging Ltd.
InventorsIsrael B. Arnon, Yoel Arieli
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of analyzing a thermal image of a body section is disclosed. The method comprises obtaining a thermospatial representation of the body section, calculating a surface integral of the thermal data over the surface, and determining the likelihood that a thermally distinguishable region is present in the body section, based on a value of the surface integral.
Claims25
A method of analyzing a thermal image of a body section, comprising:
- obtaining a 3D thermospatial representation having thermal data representing the thermal image and 3D spatial data representing a non-planar surface of the body section, said thermal data being associated with said 3D spatial data;
- calculating by a computer processor a surface integral of said thermal data over said surface using a correction factor for weighting the value of picture-elements in said thermospatial representation;
- and
- determining the likelihood that a thermally distinguishable region is present in said body section, based on a value of said surface integral.
A method of monitoring evolution of a tumor in a body section, the method comprising:
- (a) using an thermospatial imaging system for generating a series of 3D thermospatial representations, each having thermal data representing the thermal image and 3D spatial data representing a non-planar surface of the body section, said thermal data being associated with said spatial data;
- (b) calculating by a computer processor, for each thermospatial representation, a surface integral of respective thermal data over respective surface using a correction factor for weighting the value of picture-elements in said thermospatial representation, thereby providing a series of surface integral values;
- and
- (c) comparing at least two of said surface integral values, and using said comparison for assessing whether the size of the tumor varies, thereby monitoring the existence and/or evolution of the tumor.
Apparatus for analyzing a thermal image of a body section, comprising:
- an input unit configured to receive a 3D thermospatial representation having thermal data representing the thermal image and 3D spatial data representing a non-planar surface of the body section, said thermal data being associated with said spatial data;
- an integration unit having circuit configured to calculate a surface integral of said thermal data over said surface, using a correction factor for weighting the value of picture-elements in said thermospatial representation;
- and
- an output unit configured to issue a report regarding a value of said surface integral.
An imaging and processing system, comprising:
- a thermospatial imaging system operable to provide a 3D thermospatial representation of a body section, said thermospatial representation having thermal data representing the thermal image and 3D spatial data representing a non-planar surface of the body section, said thermal data being associated with said spatial data;
- and
- apparatus for analyzing a thermal image of a body section, said apparatus comprising:
- an input unit configured to receive said thermospatial representation;
- an integration unit having circuit configured to calculate a surface integral of said thermal data over said surface, using a correction factor for weighting the value of picture-elements in said thermospatial representation;
- and
- an output unit configured to issue a report regarding a value of said surface integral.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.