Methods and apparatus for a remote, noninvasive technique to detect core body temperature in a subject via thermal imaging
First Claim
1. A thermal imaging system that provides core body temperature information of a subject, comprising a thermal imaging device that acquires thermal image data of at least a portion of the subject when the subject is within a field of view of the device;
- and program instructions that derive a core body temperature information for the subject using the thermal image data.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An approach to noninvasively, remotely and accurately detect core body temperature in a warm-blooded subject, human or animal, via thermal imaging. Preferred features such as the use of in-frame temperature references, specific anatomical target regions and a physiological heat transfer model help the present invention to overcome pitfalls inherent with existing thermal imaging techniques applied to physiological screening applications. This invention provides the ability to noninvasively, remotely and rapidly screen for diseases or conditions that are characterized by changes in core body temperature. One human application of this invention is the remote screening for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), since fever is a common, early symptom. Other diseases and conditions that affect the core body temperature of humans or animals may also be noninvasively and remotely detected with this invention.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A thermal imaging system that provides core body temperature information of a subject, comprising
a thermal imaging device that acquires thermal image data of at least a portion of the subject when the subject is within a field of view of the device; - and
program instructions that derive a core body temperature information for the subject using the thermal image data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of remotely determining a core body temperature of a subject, comprising:
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acquiring thermal image data for at least a portion of the subject; and
deriving the core body temperature of the subject using the thermal image data. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of screening for SARS, comprising:
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acquiring thermal image data of at least a portion of a subject;
determining a core body temperature of the subject based on the thermal image data; and
using the determined core body temperature to assess whether the subject may have SARS.
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24. A method of screening for a health condition, comprising
acquiring a thermal image of at least a portion of a subject; -
determining a core body temperature of the subject based on the thermal image data; and
using the determined core body temperature to assess whether the subject may have a health condition. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of determining a core body temperature of a subject, comprising the steps of:
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acquiring thermal image data of an eye region of the target subject; and
determining a core body temperature of the subject based on thermal image data associated with the eye region.
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32. A method of determining a core body temperature of a subject, comprising the steps of:
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acquiring thermal image data of a forehead region of the target subject; and
determining a core body temperature of the subject based on thermal image data associated with the forehead region.
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33. A method of screening a target body for an abnormal core body temperature, comprising:
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deriving at least one surface temperature of the target body remotely; and
determining a core body temperature of the target from the at least one surface temperature of the target body.
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34. A method of determining a core body temperature of a target body, comprising:
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simultaneously acquiring thermal image data of a subject and a surface associated with an ambient temperature; and
deriving the core body temperature of the target body from the simultaneously acquired surface and ambient temperature thermal image data.
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35. A method of detecting a core body temperature of an animal, comprising the steps of:
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determining a core body temperature of the animal using thermal image data; and
evaluating a health condition of the animal based on the determined core body temperature.
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36. A thermal imaging system comprising an in-frame temperature reference system, said reference system comprising:
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a first temperature reference surface having a relatively high emissivity; and
a second temperature reference surface having a relatively low emissivity. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38)
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Specification