Procedure and apparatus for noncontacting measurement of subcutaneous temperature distributions
First Claim
1. An improved apparatus for noncontacting measurement of subcutaneous body temperature distributions in a body, said improved apparatus comprising:
- an elliptical reflector for receiving emitted electromagnetic thermal radiation from a subcutaneous point in said body and for focusing said received thermal radiation, said reflector having an aperture diameter of between 50 to 100 cm and an object focal length of between 0.6 and 1.6 times said aperture diameter,a receiving horn imbedded into the image focal point of said reflector for receiving said focused thermal radiation,means operatively connected to said receiving horn for generating an output indicative of the subcutaneous body temperature at said point, said reflector, horn, and generating means being capable of operating in the microwave thermal radiation range of 8 to 36 GHz, andmeans for supporting said elliptical reflector with said imbedded receiving horn above said body at a distance equal to the object focal length of said reflector less the depth of the subcutaneous tissue.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for noncontacting measurement and imaging of subcutaneous temperature distributions for the early detection of tumors. The (black-body) thermal electromagnetic radiation emitted by hyperthermic tumorous tissues is collected, focussed and detected within several frequency bands from 8 GHz to 36 GHz using a specially designed light-weight elliptical reflector and a highly sensitive broadband radiometer which are scanned in a raster type fashion over the supine patient. Direct indication of subcutaneous temperatures, microcomputer-aided data processing, and color or grey scale image display provide clinically usable subcutaneous thermograms at several depths which, together with conventional cutaneous infrared thermograms, can be utilized for the early detection and mass screening of tumors such as breast cancer.
54 Citations
4 Claims
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1. An improved apparatus for noncontacting measurement of subcutaneous body temperature distributions in a body, said improved apparatus comprising:
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an elliptical reflector for receiving emitted electromagnetic thermal radiation from a subcutaneous point in said body and for focusing said received thermal radiation, said reflector having an aperture diameter of between 50 to 100 cm and an object focal length of between 0.6 and 1.6 times said aperture diameter, a receiving horn imbedded into the image focal point of said reflector for receiving said focused thermal radiation, means operatively connected to said receiving horn for generating an output indicative of the subcutaneous body temperature at said point, said reflector, horn, and generating means being capable of operating in the microwave thermal radiation range of 8 to 36 GHz, and means for supporting said elliptical reflector with said imbedded receiving horn above said body at a distance equal to the object focal length of said reflector less the depth of the subcutaneous tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An improved apparatus for noncontacting measurement of subcutaneous body temperature distributions in a body, said improved apparatus comprising:
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an elliptical reflector for receiving emitted electromagnetic thermal radiation from a subcutaneous point in said body and for focusing said received thermal radiation, said reflector having an aperture diameter of between 50 to 100 cm and an object focal length of between 0.6 and 1.6 times said aperture diameter, a receiving horn imbedded into the image focal point of said reflector for receiving said focused thermal radiation, means operatively connected to said receiving horn for generating an output indicative of the subcutaneous body temperature at said point, said reflector, horn, and generating means being capable of operating in the microwave thermal radiation range of 8 to 36 GHz, means for supporting said elliptical reflector with said imbedded receiving horn above said body at a distance equal to the object focal length of the reflector less the depth of the subcutaneous tissue, said supporting means being further capable of moving said reflector in a predetermined raster scan across said body, and means for focusing two visible light beams at the subcutaneous object focal point of said reflector so that the depth of the subcutaneous point is indicated by the spacing between the two light beams on the surface of said body.
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Specification