News in Thermology

9th European Congress of Thermology

Prof.Dr.Anna Jung is preparing the organisation of the 9th European Congress of Thermology, which will take place in Krakow  May 30 to June 1, 2003. The conference will be combined with 6th National Congress of the Polish Association of Thermology and the 16th Thermo- logical Symposium of the Austrian Society of Thermology.

The international scientific board of this major thermology conference is headed by
Prof Dr. Anna Jung, Poland. She is assisted by

Prof. Francis Ring, U.K,
Kevin Howell, U.K
Prof. Pors Nielsen, Danmark
Prof. J. Mercer, Norway,
Prof. H.Tauchmanova, Slovak Republik
Prof. I.Benkö, Hungary
Dr. G.Dalla Volta, Italy
Prof. K.Ammer, Austria
Dr.H.Mayr, Austria
Prof. Ram C. Purohit, USA
Prof.K.Mabuchi, Japan
Prof. Lee, Korea
Prof. M.Brioschi, Brasil.

Krakow

the European City of Culture for 2000, is one of the most visited cities in Poland. This former capital city has a wealth of preserved buildings and culture over many centuries. It is a major centre of science and learning, its renowned Jagellonian University is one of the oldest in Europe from 1466. The University Museum contains many items dating back to Copernicus, who received his degree there.  The main square is the largest medieval market square in Europe. In the centre is the famous Cloth Hall from the 12th century, which today is a centre for local arts, crafts and souvenirs. A few hundred meters away stands the Royal Castle commanding a view of the whole city. The origins of this historic building date back to the year 1000 AD.

The Conference Centre is a pleasant building in the old town district belonging to the Polish Military. It has art deco styling typical of the early 20th Century, with a conference hall and exhibition area on the first floor.

Campanile Hotel  is conveniently located a few minutes walk away and is less than 5 minutes walk to the old city square, with its abundance of restaurants etc.

Krakow Airport Balice is near the city, and can be reached by bus and taxi. Good International connections include Chicago, London, Paris, and Rome. Regular daily flights link to Warsaw’s International Airport.

Polish National Tourist Websites

Austria     polska@netway.at
Belgium   www.polska-be.com
Germany 
www.polen-info.de
Italy         www.polonia.it
UK          
www.visitpoland.org
USA       
www.polandtour.org
 

Topics of the Conference

Thermal physiology, skin temperature, thermo- regulation, Clinical applications of thermal imaging and related techniques (LDI, U/S, MIR), Raynaud’s phenomenon, hand-arm syndrome, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, neuromuscu- lar conditions, peripheral vascular diseases, deep vein thrombosis, haemodialysis, skin graft monitoring, paediatric diseases, rheumatology, Image quantitation,   Developments in Infra red camera systems, Software and image processing, databases and normal thermograms, standards of IR imaging

Outline programme

Thursday 29th May    

14.00-17.00    Registration at The Cultural Institute  Zyblikiewicza 1.

Evening          Welcome reception party

Friday 30th

09.00 – 17.30                   Congress opens.
 I- IV                               Human Body Temperature,Physiology and technical developments

Saturday 31st May

08.30 – 17.30                
V-IX Clinical applications of Thermal imaging

19.30                                                                Conference dinner & folk music

Sunday 1st June                     

0900 – 13.00
            X – XI Clinical applications & Future trends

14.00         Krakow sightseeing 

An Exhibition of equipment and related subjects will be held throughout the conference.  Interested companies should contact Prof. Jung without delay. ajung@cskwam.mil.pl

ABSTRACT DEADLINE : FEBRUARY 1st 2003  

Abstract form in Thermology International (page 180) or conference website

REGISTRATION FEE

before Feb.1st 350 USD/ 350Euros

After Feb.1st. 450USD/ 450 Euros

PAYMENT to

A/c 10201156-202693-270-1  Warsaw

Addressed to: POLSKIE TOWARDZYSTWO DIAGNOSTYKI TERMOGRAFICZNEJ W MEDYCYNIE

Make sure that your name is shown on the documentation and registration form.

Registration form from:  ajung@cskwam.mil.plin Thermology International (page 182) or
website.

Accommodation

The Conference Hotel is Campanile Krakow in the Old City and close to the Congress Centre                   Sw.Tomasza 34 Str
Single room 75USD
Double 85USD (incl. breakfast)

13TH THERMO in Budapest

The Scientific Society of Measurement, Automation and Informatics (MATE) has the honour to invite you to the  13th International Conference on Thermal Engineering and Thermogrammetry (THERMO)

from the 18th to 20th of June, 2003 in the OSSKI Center (Törley Palace), Budapest, XXII.
(Budafok), Anna u. 5.

The Conference Organizers

Branch of Thermal Engineering and
 Thermogrammetry (TE and TGM)

Hungarian Society of Thermology (HST) at MATE,

European Association of Thermology (EAT),

International Center for Heat and Mass Transfer (ICHMT).

Sponsors:

Hungarian Ministry of Education (OM),

Foundation for Industry, Budapest (IMFA),

Hungarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Budapest (GM),

Hungarian Energy Office, Budapest (M.E.H.),

Budapest University of Technology and
Economics (BME),
Department of Energy Engineering (DoEE),

EGI-Contracting/Engineering Co. Ltd.,
Budapest (EGI Rt.),

Research and Development Company for the Combustion Technology, Miskolc (TÜKI Rt.),

Frédéric Joliot-Curie’ National Research
Institute for Radiobiology and Radiohygiene,
Budapest (OSSKI),

Dsy Web Studio.

Scientific Committee

Chairman:  Dr. I. Benkõ, BME, DoEE, Hungary (EAT, HST, President of TE & TGM)

Secretary: I. Kovacsics, Msc,   EGI-Contracting /Engineering Co. Ltd., Budapest, Hungary (HST,  TE & TGM)

Members

Dr. K. Ammer, LBF für Phys. Diag., Wien, Austria (EAT)

Dr. M. Andrassy  B, University of Zagreb,  Zagreb, Croatia

Dr. F. Arinç, Middle East Techn. Univ.,Ankara, Turkey (ICHMT)

Dr. T. Ayhan, Univ. of Bahrain, Dept of  Mech. Eng., State of Bahrain

Dr. W. Bauer, University of Duisburg, Duisburg, Germany

Dr. A. Can, University of Trakya, Edirne, Turkey

Dr. I. Dincer, King Fahd Univ. of Petroleum & Minerals,Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

Dr. A. Lallemand, Editor-in-chief of IJTS, INSA-Lyon Villeurbanne, France

Dr. E.F.J. Ring, School of Computing, University of Glamorgan, Pontypridd, U.K. (EAT)

Dr. S. Kakaç, University of Miami, Coral Gables, USA

Dr. L.I. Kiss, University of Québec in Chicoutimi, Canada

Dr. G. J. Köteles, OSSKI, Director, Budapest, Hungary (HST)

Dr. M. Groll, IKE- University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany

Dr.T.-M. Liou, National Tsing Hua Univ., Hsinchu, Taiwan, Rep. of China

Dr. X. Maldague, University Laval, Quebec city, Canada (QIRT)

Dr. S. Mochizuki, Tokyo Univ. of Agriculture and Techn., Tokyo, Japan

Dr. T. Kapros, TÜKI Rt., Miskolc, Hungary

Dr. A. Penninger, BME, Head of the DoEE, Budapest, Hungary

Dr. M. Osztheimer, VEIKI Rt., Budapest, Hungary

Dr. E. Hahne, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany

Dr. S. Švaic, FSB, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia (QIRT)

Dr. W. -J. Yang, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA

Dr. B. Wiecek, Technical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland (QIRT)

About the Conference

Since 1977 a successful series of Symposia has been organised by our Society every year. At the beginning these events were named “Symposium on Thermogrammetry” after a newly developed branch of thermal mapping methods which played a significant role in the program. As the scope of the symposia widened in 1982 they received the new name “Symposium on thermo-technical measurements”.

Due to the broad and increasing interest shown by the international thermal engineering and physician communities, in 1987 it was already organised as the International Conference on Thermal Engineering and Thermogrammetry (THERMO). This conference is a series of biennial meetings. The Conference is intended to be an event worthy of the attention of all engineers, scientists, physicians and researchers who are involved in the solution of thermal or energy related problems, as well as in the applications of thermal imaging.

Objectives

The developments of measurement theory and technologies help the energy- conscious design of thermal engineering equipment and processes as well as the better understanding of thermal phenomena in living organisms.

The Conference will cover topics both the field of theory and application including new measurement concepts; transducer technique; thermal mapping; contact, optical and IR imaging; biomedical and biotechnological applications; thermal informatics, automatic methods and systems for industrial energy management and process control; heat loss detection and analysis; heat and mass transfer; utilization of alternative energy; thermophysical properties as well as the common practice of thermal engineering.

This Conference will provide the latest information on the above topics together with a good opportunity for personal discussions among experts in the fields of energy conservation, control of energy release and loss, protection of human environment, medical and veterinary applications, remote control through infrared sensors.

Main Topics

The structure of the sessions will be fixed after receiving the papers, but the topics will cover the following fields:

General thermal engineering; theory of measure- ments; thermal informatics, thermo-CAD and its applications; industrial energy management and process control systems; practice of thermal engineering; infra-red imaging science & technology: thermogrammetry, micro- and nano- scale thermal phenomena and sensing techniques, thermal defectometry; applied thermo- optics; thermophysical properties; heat and mass transfer; cooling of electronic components; heat exchangers; combustion; thermophysics of the environment; building services; environmental aspects of energy use; thermo-ergonomy and thermo-psychology; thermo diagnostics; system analysis in thermo-biology; IR-imaging in biomedical and bio-engineering applications; remote sensing through IR-imaging, multidisciplinary topics.

Technical Issues

The language of conference and abstracts is English. Together with oral presentation of papers a poster session will be organized. The preliminaryprogramme (until June, 2002) includes more than 30 papers from 21 countries (Algeria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Iran, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Turkey, Ukraine, USA).

The duration of each presentation will be limited to 15 minutes and additional time for discussion will also be provided. The English trans- lation of lectures not read in English should be submitted at the registration desk on the spot. LCD projector and computer with Windows OS for Microsoft Power Point format presentations is available. (Please note that using your own computer is not allowed.) Those intending to attend the conference are kindly invited to send a registration form to the address listed later, under the heading ‘INFORMATION’.

Exhibition

During the conference an exhibition of scientific and indus­trial instru­mentation will be organised. Exhibitors from the field of tempera- ture measurement and control, thermal properties, IR-imaging, anemometry, industrial energy control, heat loss detection equipment etc. are welcomed.

Venue

The conference is hosted by the OSSKI Center (Törley Palace, Budapest, XXII. (Budafok), Anna u. 5.) located in the vicinity of the famous Budafok wine cellars. More information about the conference place and hotel accommodation will be sent after the arrival of the Registration Form.

Call for Papers

The photocopy-ready papers of six A4 format pages to be presented on the conference are to be submitted before 15 December, 2002. To assist the work of the Scientific Committee the authors are kindly requested to point out the aim, method and results of their work.

Notification of the acceptance will be forwarded to the authors until 28 February, 2003. The abstract of all accepted papers will be included the Proceedings to be presented to the participants at the Conference.

Information

Application Forms and papers should be sent to:

Dr.Imre BENKÕ, MATE Secretariat, House of Technology, III.318.,

H-1372 Budapest, POB. 451., Hungary.

Fax: +361-353-1406 Phone: +361-332-9571.

E-mail:benko@hp.osski.hu

For any further information please contact the following address:

Dr. Imre BENKÕ, Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME), Department of Energy Engineering (DoEE), H-1111 Budapest, Mûegyetem rkp. 7. D.208., Hungary.

Office phone: +361-463-2183. DoEE Phone/fax: +361-463-3273 or -310-0999.

Home Phone/fax: +361-310-0999

E-mail: benko@eta.enrg.bme.huand please send  a copy to: benko@hp.osski.hu

or visit  http://www.osski.hu/rendezv/thermo13.htm.

and for 12THERMO(2001   http://www.osski.hu/rendezv/thermo.htm.

Typing instructions

for Papers of the 13th International THERMO Conference

The papers should comply with the following structure (Font style and size of individual items are indicated in brackets. The font type should be Univers/ Arial/ Helvetica.)

Deadline: Papers should arrive before 15 January, 2003.

Title of the paper (Bold, 18 points, directly at top of page)

[Please leave two blank lines here]

Author’s name (degree, title) (Bold capitals, 12 points, aligned to right) (The name of the co- author who presents the paper should be underlined)

Author’s affiliation (institution) (Italics, 12 points)

Mailing address (city, street address, country, ZIP code)(normal, 12 points)

[Please leave three blank lines here]

SUMMARY (Bold, 10 points)

A short summary of about six lines. (Normal, 10 points)

[Please leave three blank lines here]

Text of the paper starts here. The paper should provide the following information: purpose of the study, the methods used, summary of the results and conclusions. Authors are requested to emphasize the novelties in their work. (Normal, 12 points. Subheadings should be in bold.)

The text should be typed on A4 paper and
completely fill the 16.5x25cm typing area
(top/bottom margins: 2/2.8 cm,
left/right margins: 2.5/2 cm).

The papers should not exceed six pages. They must be typed in English, with single line spacing. One blank line shoud be left between paragraphs. For headings and subheadings inter- national numbering should be used (e.g. 1., 1.1., 1.1.1.). Paragraphs must be indented with three spaces. Hand-written special symbols are to be drawn in black ink.

The contact details should appear at the end of the paper according to the sample below:

Contact details:    Prof. Dr. Imre BENKÕ,
Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME), Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Energy Engineering (DoEE), H-1521 Budapest, Mûegyetem rkp. 7/D. 208. Hungary,
DoEE Phone/Fax: +361-463-3273 or 361-310-0999, Home Phone/Fax: +361-310-0999
e-mail: benko@eta.enrg.bme.huand please send a copy to benko@hp.osski.hu, too.

Pagination should only appear on the reverse side of the page in blue crayon.

Please note that in printing process of the papers are photocopied to A4 size. Therefore papers must be photocopy ready.

Please DO NOT FOLD THE MANUSCRIPT ! It must be mailed in manila envelope with cardboard backing. Papers not complying with the above will not be accepted.

4th Instructional Course on Thermal Imaging in Medicine

After three successful courses on Thermal Imaging in Medicine in 2001and 2002, requests were made  for another course. The 4thd Short Course  February will be held on April 9-11, 2003 at the School of Computing of the University of Glamorgan in Pontypridd, Wales, UK.  Prof K Ammer, Prof F Ring and  Dr P Plassmann will lecture on the theoretical and historical basis of thermal imaging in medicine, clinical applications and future developments of thermal imaging in medicine. A supervised practical session is included which focuses on the capture and analysis of images.

Registration Fee is £300. Cheques should be made payable to  The University of Glamorgan. The Fee includes lunch and refreshment breaks,  the hardback book -The Thermal image In Medicine and Biology, and a CD of Archived IR Imaging in Medicine publications,

The course is recognized by The University and certificates will be issued to all who complete the short course.

Further information can be obtained from
 Prof Francis Ring
(01443 483717 , e-mail efring@glam.ac.uk) or

Dr Peter Plassmann
(01443 483486, e-mail pplassma@glam.ac.uk)

School of Computing, University of  Glamorgan, Pontypridd,  CF37 1DL

Detecting Breast Cancer with A New Algorithm and a Multi-spectral Infra-Red Imaging System
(Press Release,  Office of Naval Research, 800 N. Quincy St., Arlington, VA 22217-5660 http://www.onr.navy.mil/ )

What does remote sensing for camouflaged enemy ground vehicles have to do with breast cancer diagnosis? By next year, perhaps plenty. A smart sensor fusion algorithm modeled on the human visual/brain “unsupervised“ learning System and a 200 channel hyperspectral remote sensing capability have been developed by the Office of Naval Research for use as a passive electro-optical, infra-red ground surveillance system. The same method has now shown success in detecting the heat radiated by abnormally reproducing breast cancer cells.

Hyperspectral sensors sweep up enormous quantities of data, but their usefulness has been liniited by our ability to pull the important information out of that clutter. The algorithm that processes the data is the important factor. Last year the Under Secretary of Defense for Science and Technology asked ONR to look at the potential usage of remote sensing to improve breast cancer diagnosis. Dr. Harold Szu and Mr. James Buss‘ single-pixel unsupervised classi- fication algorithm, based on the Lagrange Constraint Neural Network (LCNN) and multiple spectral data per pixel initially designed to increase the effectiveness of surveillance systems, now promises to enhance the sensitivity and accuracy of breast cancer testing.

Abnormally reproducing cells demand greater nutrition through increased blood supply, thus generating higher concentrations of heat in specific areas. Applying their algorithm, Dr. Harold Szu and Mr. James Buss are able to classify the infrared heat distribution given off by these cells.

A truly unsupervised algorithm per pixel must be based on the information derived directly form spectral data alone. In order to reveal the hidden spectral features contained in a single pixel image data vector X=[Ä]S, one has to invert the matrix without knowing both the breast-medium heat-transfer matrix (MTF) [A] and the heat source 5 which both vary from pixel to pixel. While ONR‘s spave-variant imaging algorithm following the spectral data vector analysis and the physics constraints of thermodynamics free energy minimization has achieved sub-pixel accuracy, other statistical Independent Component Analyses (ICA) methodologies suffer pixel-averaging blurring effect. This is because the average over neigh- borhood pixels must imphcitly assume an identical MTF [A] for the space-invariant imaging. This would be true only in cases of a large tumor requiring no more automatic target detection.

Similar to a pair of human eyes, a pair of cameras  at different infrared wavelengths —wavelength IR (3-5 jtm) camera and Long wave- length IR (8-12 ~tm) camera. Both have about 10 milli Kelvin degrees in the minimum resolvable temperature difference (MRTD) — transcribes this thermal diffusion process into two images, which are then filtered for shared signals while disagreement noise is minimized. Through this process, last February Szu and Buss and their team detected early stage ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) in a test patient using a double-blind procedure (see images here:
http://www.onr.navv.mil/ops/media/download.htm)

“This multispectral, sub-pixel super-resolution is potentially more accurate by an order of magnitude,“ states Dr. Szu, “lt offers a passive, inexpensive, non-intrusive, convenient means of screening pre-cancer patients without radiation hazard, and may potentially detect in situ carcinomas long before a mammogram might detect them.“

Thermal breast scanning has been employed for a number of years, especially in Europe and Asia, but its use has been limited to a single infra-red band, using a single camera. The application of the “unsupervised“ classification algo- rithm may offer an unbiased, more sensitive, accurate, and generally more effective way to frack the development of breast cancer, without demanding the variables of a long wait in a cold room, increasing the variability inaccuracy in thermal detection and causing patient discomfort.

The success of the initial double-blind experiment substantiates the promising application for the use of multispectral imaging in improving the early detection process for breast cancer and possibly other dermal carcinomas. A provisional patent application has been filed. Follow-on research and clinical studies are being planned through the use of Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADA).

A web-based database of medical images (MedATR) is being developed by Advanced Concepts Analysis Inc., of Falls Church, VA, hosted on the Air Force Virtual Distributed Laboratory secure web site (VDL).

For more information on this story,  please call:

GaiI Cleere, 703-6964987, or email mailto:cleereg@onr.navv.mil or

Jennifer Huergo, 703-696-0950, or email mailto:huergoj@onr.navv.mil

UKTA Medical Section News

The Medical Section newsletter keeps members up to date with medical infrared issues in the UK. It brings you news of meetings, member profiles, and reports on the use of medical infrared thermography from around the UK. Please send any items to the editor, Kevin Howell. We need your news to fill this space in future issues !
The next newsletter will be published in December, with the deadline for copy being 30th November.
infrared_thermography@hotmail.com

“Medical Infrared Thermography” meeting report from the Royal Free Hospital

This year’s UK Medical Infrared Thermography meeting on 18th May attracted some of the leading experts in the field of thermal imaging. Speakers came from across the UK, and also from Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic and the USA.

Prof. Francis Ring (University of Glamorgan School of Computing) gave the opening keynote address on the history of medical thermo- graphy. He described how Sir William Herschel’s discovery of infrared radiation in 1800, and Carl Wunderlich’s groundbreaking thesis on medical thermometry in 1871, were the initial steps towards thermography performed with today’s state-of-the-art focal plane array thermal imagers.

Dr. Graham Machin (National Physical Laboratory, Teddington) gave the inaugural Brian Chu Memorial Presentation. Brian worked on temperature standards at NPL for 19 years, and was developing a blackbody calibration source for medical thermography at NPL prior to his untimely death in April 2002. Graham described the importance of regular calibration of medical thermal imagers, and the challenge of demonstrating that temperature measurements are traceable to the International Temperature Scale of 1990 (ITS-90).

Dr.Paul Campbell (Ninewells Hospital, Dundee) spoke about the use of thermography in surgery, which is being pioneered by Prof. Sir Alfred Cuschieri in the Department of Surgery and Molecular Oncology at Ninewells. Paul presented some thermographic observations of a heat-activated shape memory alloy suture staple. He explained how thermography has helped in the optimisation of the staple design by visualising the heat flow through the alloy when it is heated resistively to achieve closure. Paul next explained how dynamic thermo- graphy is also used at Ninewells to determine the degree of thermal spread from surgical instruments in energised surgery. This work will be important in optimising energised surgical techniques to ensure that there is minimal collateral thermal damage during such procedures.

Prof. James Levine (The Mayo Clinic, MN, USA) gave an informative and highly entertaining presentation of his research into the detection of deception using thermography of the face. This work was first published in Nature at the end of last year, and attracted a great deal of media interest on both sides of the Atlantic. Jim explained how the ability to reliably detect deceit would be of obvious benefit to national security, but pointed out that deception and harmful intent are not the same thing. He then presented his group’s findings, which show that warming of the area around the eyes is an indicator of deceit comparable in reliability to a US Department of Defense polygraph test. The potential benefit of thermography over the polygraph is that infrared imaging could in be employed in principle without the subject’s knowledge.

Kevin Howell (Royal Free Hospital, London) closed the meeting by thanking the participants and sponsors, and presenting a brief review of the state of medical infrared thermography world wide. He explained that the next European infrared thermography meeting was due to take place in Krakow in June 2003. Plans were also being made to publish the proceedings of the London meeting on CD ROM this summer, and establish a database of UK researchers with expertise in medical thermo- graphy. Kevin also brought a number of resources for thermographers to the audience’s attention. The UK Thermography Association (UKTA) Medical Section is the national organisation promoting medical infrared imaging, and publishes a regular newsletter. “Thermo- logy International” is the journal of medical infrared imaging, published by Prof. Kurt Ammer at the Ludig Boltzmann Institute in Vienna. A searchable archive of thermography papers in .pdf format is available for purchase from Prof. Ring at the University of Glamorgan.

The meeting was supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council Grant GR/S00026/01, and sponsored by Flir Systems and Moor Instruments.

“Thermology International” for UKTA Medical Section members

“Thermology International” is the Embase- listed journal of medical thermography. It is the official scientific journal of the UKTA Medical Section, and a large number of other national and international medical thermographic associations world-wide. UKTA Medical Section members can subscribe to “Thermology International” at a discounted rate.

The UKTA committee is keen to encourage increased uptake of the journal. To further this aim we have reached a new agreement with the editor, Prof. Ammer, which means UKTA will distribute the journal to members in the UK and collect subscriptions.

To subscribe to “Thermology International” please complete the form enclosed and send a cheque for £30 to Kevin Howell at the Rheuma- tology Department, Royal Free Hospital, Pond Street, London. NW3 2QG. Cheques should be made payable to “UKTA”. The fee is the sterling equivalent of the 32 Euro subscription fee, plus a charge for banking and mailing fees. Henceforth, copies of the journal will be forwarded to UK subscribers by Kevin Howell at the Royal Free Hospital.

UK members of the “Thermology International” editorial board will continue to receive copies of the journal direct from Vienna.

If you have any questions about this new arrangement, please contact Kevin Howell by e-mail at infrared_thermography@ hotmail.com

Becoming a “Medical Section” member

A number of general members of UKTA have expressed an interest in joining the Medical Section, and have asked if it is necessary to pay the subscription fee quoted on our Medical Section subscription form in addition to the general membership fee. In fact, any full UKTA  member can join the Medical Section at no additional cost. Just let Kevin Howell know, and he will be pleased to add you to the “Medical Section” membership list. This will give you the right to receive the dedicated medical news- letter, and to subscribe at the reduced rate to “Thermology International.”

The Medical Section subscription rate exists solely for medical users of thermography who do not require full general membership of UKTA or use of its services to industry. Consequently, these “Medical Section only” members have reduced UKTA membership privileges.

New Member Profile

The UKTA Medical Section is very pleased to welcome Dr. Paul Campbell as our latest member. Below is his profile, which will also appear in the forthcoming database of medical thermo- graphic expertise to be issued on CD-ROM along with the proceedings of the London meeting. If you attended the London meeting, or are actively involved in medical infrared thermography in the UK, Paul needs your profile for the database (in a format similar to his profile below) right now! Please send all copy to Paul’s address at Ninewells Hospital. We intend to include profiles of both new and established Medical Section members in future newsletters, so any profiles submitted will fill a dual purpose, and will be most gratefully received by the editor!

Dr Paul Campbell

Department of Surgery and Molecular Oncology, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee University, Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland.

BACKGROUND

Paul is a graduate of London University (BSc Physics 1990) and Queen’s University Belfast (PhD Experimental Physics 1994). He gained research experience in the field of infrared modelling whilst a Higher Scientific Officer with the Defence Research Agency at Farn- borough, and has held experimentally based postdoctoral positions at the Universities of Bath and Belfast. He moved to his present position as Senior Research Fellow with the Surgical Technology Group at Dundee in May 2000. In the past year he has conducted a major thermographic study in collaboration with the renowned keyhole surgeon, Sir Alfred Cuschieri, to assess the use of infrared imaging as an adjunct to energised surgery. Dr Campbell has held grants from The Nuffield Foundation, EPSRC, The Royal Society, DTI, and The Well- come Trust in the past.  He was the co-organiser of the ‘UK Symposium on Medical Thermal Imaging and Related Techniques’ which took place at the Royal Free Hospital earlier in the summer.

APPLICATION: Thermography during energised surgery

Energised surgical instruments are commonplace and may rely on ultrasonic; RF bipolar (and monopolar); or laser based energy sources for operative purposes. A typical surgical goal might be to seal or dissect vessel/tissues quickly, and such energised approaches usually work by heating the target structure into a distinct temperature regime to achieve an alteration in the physical properties of tissue. Under such circumstances, it is usually found that tissue outside the target region of interest is also affected by the heating procedure, leading to collateral damage. We have begun an extensive study of collateral damage and mechanisms whereby it can be reduced or indeed eliminated during energised surgery. Monitoring instrument activation using thermal imaging has proved to be a powerful adjunct to surgery and allows: power levels to be optimised in situ, as well as facilitating observation of relevant clinical parameters such as the level of blood perfusion and also the direct assessment of seal integrity. We will enhance our activity in this area in the near future through the development of a versatile dual channel infrared endoscope.

contact details:
tel:        01382 496490, fax:         01382 496361
email:    p.a.campbell@dundee.ac.uk

Thermography for the assessment of osteoarthritis

For the first time since years a short paper was published in the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases discussing the advantages of thermal images in joint disorders. A group from Japan (1) reported a correlation between surface temperature over the knee joint with narrowing of the joint space of the tibiofemoral joints. The authors found also a correlation between the level of temperature and the size of osteophytes. Some significant correlations between temperature and clinical symptoms were also reported, although the correlation coefficients were less than 0.7 in all comparisons, being best with a figure of -0.65 in the comparison of knee flexion and temperature. An astonishing relationship between knee temperature and the ability of walking was described, which showed higher temperatures on the medial and especially on the lateral tibiofemoral joint in patients without restrictions in walking than in subjects with impaired walking ability.

The authors tried to control for inter-individual variations of skin temperature by subtracting the mean temperature of the patella from the temperature of the medial or lateral knee respectively. The findings of this study showed higher temperatures over the lateral than over the medial part of the knee. Engel (2) described in healthy subjects higher temperatures  at the medial part of the knee. Japanese subjects with- out any  impairment in standing or walking presented with two or three-fold temperatures at the lateral knee than at the medial knee. Differences in body structures found in Japanese and in Europeans might contribute to these different thermographic findings.

References

1. Warashina H, Hasegawa Y, Tsuchiya H, Kitamura S, Yamauchi KI, Torii Y, Kawasaki M, Sakano S. Clinical, radiographic, and thermographic assessment of osteoarthritis in the knee joint. Ann Rheum Dis 2002; 61: 852-854

2. Engel J-M. Quantitative Thermographie des Kniegelenks. Z.Rheumatol 1978; 37: 242-253