Abstract:
A system for diagnosing damaged tissue includes a thermal imaging device, a data processing device including a digital media generic to or associated there with connected to the thermal imaging device, an image display device connected to or integrated with the data processing device and a graphics user interface resident on the digital media of the data processing device and executable to display on the image display device, the interface enabling user configuration of various aspects of thermal imaging and data analysis functions.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention is in the field of medical imaging systems and methods of use, and pertains more particularly to methods and apparatus for detecting and/or monitoring tissue wounds using thermal imaging. 
         [0003]    2. Discussion of the State of the Art 
         [0004]    In the art of medical imaging and at the time of this application, there are a variety of different technologies used in medical imaging. More recently, medical infrared imaging (MII) techniques such as digital infrared thermal imaging (DITI) have been used for early disease detection in specific medical diagnostic procedures such as detecting breast cancer. These techniques are broadly known in the medical field as Medical Thermography. 
         [0005]    A thermography image is a color image representing a thermal radiation pattern recorded from detecting thermal radiation local to the site of a lesion or growth. In general the concept involves measuring changes in thermal radiation emanating from the targeted tissue. In cancer for example, the effected area will show a higher thermal signature because of higher metabolic activity due to increased blood and nutrient flow surrounding the growing node or tumor. Other medical conditions that result in some change of normal thermal radiation emitted in a localized fashion may be detected using thermal imaging cameras and display equipment. 
         [0006]    One limitation of the current apparatus for thermal imaging is that the process is largely one-dimensional. The thermal signature represented by color image is also limited somewhat in resolution according to the quality of the infrared camera taking the measurements. For example, cameras that are not cooled during process provide much lower resolution than those cameras having cooling units or cells. 
         [0007]    What is clearly needed is an improved apparatus and methods for digital medical thermal imaging. Such an improved system would enable more types of tissue conditions to be diagnosed and would improve prognostics and would enable more dimensional resolution relative to results for comparison analysis when monitoring wound recovery. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The problem stated above is that monitoring the healing status of a wound is desirable for aiding recovery, but many of the conventional means for wound detection such as thermal imaging are not adapted for monitoring ongoing wound recovery. The inventors therefore considered functional elements of a thermal imaging system, looking for elements that exhibit modularity that could potentially be harnessed to provide thermal imaging but in a manner that would not limit to detection but that would enhance comprehensive diagnostic and prognostic capabilities. 
         [0009]    Every thermal imaging system is adapted to detect thermal radiation emitted from an inanimate or animate object having a temperature above absolute 0 degrees and is adapted to produce one or more images of the object the image showing the thermal radiation pattern of the object. The image is a snapshot in time and does not characterize and evolution or change in the thermal radiation emitting from the object over time. A thermal imaging system in medical thermography or a thermograph employs an infrared camera for the purpose of detecting any anomalies in typical thermal patterns in a scan of a general area to discover a lesion or growth mostly associated with a chronic disease. 
         [0010]    The present inventor realized in an inventive moment that if, at the point of imaging, multiple detectors could be employed from different angles significant dimensional improvement might result in thermal images rendered. The inventor subsequently realized also that the thermal progression of radiation released from a localized area of damaged tissue over time might be quantified to produce useful prognosis data covering different types of wound treatment therapies. The inventor therefore constructed a unique thermal imaging system for imaging damaged tissue such as in a wound that allowed tri-dimensional infrared modeling of a wound in one embodiment and ongoing prognosis of wound recovery determined from image analysis of multiple images rendered of the same wound over time. A significant improvement in diagnostic and prognostic capabilities results with no inconveniences or any residual side effects created. 
         [0011]    Accordingly in one embodiment of the present invention a system for diagnosing damaged tissue is provided, comprising a thermal imaging device, a data processing device including a digital media generic to or associated there with connected to the thermal imaging device, an image display device connected to or integrated with the data processing device, and a graphics user interface resident on the digital media of the data processing device and executable to display on the image display device, the interface enabling user configuration of various aspects of thermal imaging and data analysis functions. 
         [0012]    In one embodiment the imaging device is a digital camera with at least one infrared detector, the data processing device is a computer processor tower and the display device is a connected computer monitor. In one embodiment the damaged tissue being diagnosed is externally visible. In another embodiment, the damaged tissue being diagnosed is underneath the skin and not visible. In one embodiment the system is used to detect the damaged tissue before imaging. 
         [0013]    In a preferred embodiment, the thermal imaging device is sensitive to thermal radiation from 0.07 microns in the near infrared range up to 9 microns in the far infrared range. In one embodiment the connection between the processing device and the thermal imaging device is a data cable. In this embodiment the cable is one of a universal serial bus (USB) cable, a fire wire cable, an Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) cable or a Super Video (S-Video) cable. 
         [0014]    In another embodiment of the present invention the thermal imaging system further includes at least one additional imaging device, and a mounting bracket or mechanism for facilitating adjustable mounting of the imaging devices about the wound. In a variation of this embodiment the mechanism to which the cameras are mounted to is a goniometer track. In one embodiment employing multiple imaging devices, the imaging devices are digital cameras with at least one infrared detector, the data processing device is a computer processor tower and the display device is a connected computer monitor. 
         [0015]    In one embodiment employing multiple imaging devices, the damaged tissue is externally visible. In another embodiment employing multiple imaging devices the damaged tissue is underneath the skin and not visible. In this embodiment the system is used to detect the damaged tissue before imaging. 
         [0016]    In a preferred embodiment employing multiple imaging devices the thermal imaging devices are sensitive to thermal radiation from 0.07 microns in the near infrared range up to 9 microns in the far infrared range. 
         [0017]    According to yet another embodiment of the invention a method for thermal imaging of damaged tissue is provided comprising the steps (a) powering on a thermal imaging system, the system including at least one thermal imaging device, (b) locating the damaged tissue to be imaged, (c) positioning the imaging device or devices over the tissue to be imaged, and (d) recording the thermal images. 
         [0018]    In one aspect of the method the thermal imaging system also includes a computer processing tower, a connected monitor, and a graphics user interface. In one aspect the system is used to locate the damaged tissue, the tissue not visible to the operator of the system. In one aspect of the method an additional step is inserted between step (b) and step (c) for pre-treating the wound using a temperature controlled glove or boot. In another aspect of the method in step (c) the devices are positioned around the wound on a goniometer track and at step (d) multiple image recordings are made from the devices at different positions. 
         [0019]    In one embodiment of the system the connection between the thermal imaging device and the data processing device is a wireless connection the imaging data transmitted to the data processing system from the thermal imaging device over the connection. In another aspect of the method using a temperature controlled glove or boot, the temperature controlled glove or boot is used to produce an artificial temperature state at the wound site the transition from which back to the actual thermal state of the wound is monitored with respect to time of completion of the transition and analyzed for comparative results. 
         [0020]    In another aspect of the system, the damaged tissue is illuminated during thermal imaging to improve image contrast. In the embodiment using more than one imaging device the damaged tissue is also illuminated during thermal imaging to improve image contrast. In an aspect of the method, a step is added between steps (c) and (d) for illuminating the damaged tissue to improve image contrast. 
         [0021]    In one aspect of the system a temperature controlled glove or boot is used to produce an artificial temperature state at the wound site the transition from which back to the actual thermal state of the wound is monitored with respect to time of completion of the transition and analyzed for comparative results. This aspect may also apply to the embodiment of the system using multiple imaging devices. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is an architectural view of a digital thermal imaging system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is an architectural view of a digital thermal imaging system according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is a process flow diagram illustrating steps for thermal imaging of a wound according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is a process flow chart illustrating steps for thermal imaging according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  is a process flow chart illustrating steps for thermal imaging according to another embodiment of the invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  is a process flow chart illustrating steps for thermal imaging according to another embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0028]      FIG. 1  is an architectural view of a digital thermal imaging system  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention. System  100  is adapted as a thermal medical imaging system that may be used to detect and monitor visible or non-visible wounds. The type of imaging performed may be classed as no-contact thermal imaging using an infrared heat detector unit  101 , which may be an infrared camera or a digital camera also equipped with infrared sensors and a mode for thermal imaging. Thermal detection unit  101  may be referred to in this specification as an infrared camera  103  having a cooling cell  104 . 
         [0029]    In one embodiment of the present invention, camera  103  is cooled using some form of cooling mechanism  104 . Mechanism or cell  104  may be a thermoelectric cooling cell, a forced air unit, or a cryogenic or water-filled unit. As described further above in the background section, cameras that are cooled tend to be the better resolution cameras. Cooling is not, however required in order to practice the present invention. It is optional. 
         [0030]    Camera  103  may be mounted on a track or an adjustable slide-bar such as on a goniometric track (not illustrated here) for measuring angles. In one embodiment camera  103  may be a hand-held camera. Camera  103  is typically placed close to but not contacting a targeted tissue area illustrated here by a broken boundary as tissue area  102 , which may encompass a visible or non-visible wound for example. In this example there is a single camera or infrared detector in unit or system  104 . However, this should not be construed a limitation as there may be more than one or several detectors or cameras like camera  103  included in a thermal imaging system such as system  104  with each detector or camera capable of producing an independent image stream. An embodiment such as this is described in more detail later in this specification. 
         [0031]    In a preferred embodiment the system of the present invention is sensitive to near infrared, medium infrared and far infrared spectrums. Near infrared is from 0.07 microns to 2.0 microns while medium is 2.0 microns to about 4.0 microns and far infrared is 4.0 microns and above. The human body can emit radiation in the far range to 9.0 microns. In the most preferred embodiment, the system of the invention is sensitive to emissions as high as 9.0 microns. 
         [0032]    Infrared detection unit  101  or more specifically camera  103  has a cable input connection to a computer tower processor  107 , which in turn is cabled to a monitor  106  capable of displaying thermal images from camera  103 . In this example, camera  103  functions as an input peripheral device connected to the computer system via a cable such as a universal serial bus cable (USB) or some other data transmission cable such as a fire wire cable (Apple Computer), a Super Video (S-Video) cable or Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) cable for example. 
         [0033]    An infrared imaging software program  108  is provided on a removable or static digital medium generic to or provided and made accessible to computer tower  107  and is executable there from by a user exercising input command capability via a keyboard or other computer input mechanism (not illustrated). Program  108  may contain a graphical user interface that may enable a user operating imaging system or unit  101  to make certain configurations that enable or disable certain aspects of thermal imaging performed by the system. In one embodiment a GUI of program  108  allows different resolution settings to be selected for different types of wounds to be imaged. Other parameters such as lighting or no lighting, color saturation levels, image size, and so on can be regulated. 
         [0034]    In one embodiment the interface also enables certain adjustments to image or signal processing functions. For example in one aspect of monitoring a wound, periodic imaging of the wound may be ordered over a recovery period. As new snapshots of thermal imaging are taken they may be automatically inserted into a progression of shots taken since the wound was detected. By analyzing the separate shots over the timeline of the wound, the rate of healing of the wound may be determined verses time. The healing rate may be determined adjunct to treatment regimens used so as to observe an acceleration of the healing rate or a deceleration of the healing rate over time. This is just one example of possible configuration options a GUI of SW  108  may provide to a user of the system. Digital signal processing may be performed onboard system  101  to a certain extent and onboard processing tower  107  as required to provide analytic results consistent with one time thermal imaging and prognosis data relative to multiple thermal imaging sessions of a same tissue area over time. 
         [0035]    It is noted herein that thermal imaging using system  101  may include the use of one or more specified light sources such as light sources  105   a  and  105   b  illustrated in this example. Light sources  105   a  or  105   b  may be polychromatic or monochromatic light sources cable of executing filtered light. Use of light sources  105   a  and  105   b  during a thermal imaging session may be for the purpose of cancelling out ambient light and, or to maximize imaging contrast. Illuminating the wound site during imaging may also allow techniques such as fluoroscopy where a dye is injected or applied topically and fluorescence is measured when irradiated. Bandwidth filters may be provided with light sources selection options so that specific bandwidths may be selected. Light sources  105   a  and  105   b  may be part of apparatus generic to a patient staging area for thermal imaging or they may be installable on to unit  101 . In one embodiment where the light sources are installed on to system  101 , color selections and bandwidth filters may be made through the GUI of program  108  and effected remotely over the connection cable. 
         [0036]      FIG. 2  is an architectural view of a digital thermal imaging system  200  according to another embodiment of the present invention. Architecture  200  is very similar to architecture  100  described above with the exception that there is more than one thermal imaging detector or camera provided within the thermal imaging system. 
         [0037]    In system  200  a thermal imaging system comprises multiple infrared imaging cameras or detectors  203  ( 1 - n ). Cameras  203   1 - n  are mounted to a goniometric track and each camera position is adjustable along the track so as to measure or detect electromagnetic thermal radiation from a different and recordable angles. A targeted tissue area  204  emanates electromagnetic radiation picked up as thermal radiation by the infrared detectors. This is the same case as described in  FIG. 1  except that there are multiple cameras or detectors receiving the electromagnetic radiation from different angles due to their current positions on the goniometric track. Light sources  105   a  and  105   b  may also be present and used to cancel out ambient light and/or to improve image contrasting. 
         [0038]    Cameras  203  ( 1 - n ) share a single cooling system  202 . A cable  201  is provided to tether the system to the computing system comprising computer tower  107  and monitor  106 . A software program  208  is provided on digital media generic to or accessible to tower  107  and may be analogous to the SW  108  describe above except for an enhancement for incorporation into the processing of multiple cameras all producing an image stream of the same location from different angles. 
         [0039]    In this particular example, each of cameras  203  ( 1 - n ) has a different “view” of the wound and more particularly, the thermal radiation pattern surrounding the wound. Each camera therefore has a separate signal of image data unique to its position of detection. All of the separate signals may be combined into one signal expressing the values of all of the separate cameras. In this way a more complete picture of the thermal map of the wound emerges, one that is tri-dimensional instead of one or two dimensional. 
         [0040]      FIG. 3  is a process flow diagram illustrating steps  300  for thermal imaging of a wound according to one embodiment of the present invention. Steps  300  represent a simple process for creating and recording thermo-graphic images of a target tissue area. At step  301  the specific area of the wound is identified by the system. In this step the wound may be a visible wound or the wound may not be readily visible to the human eye. The system may be adapted to find an invisible wound by scanning over the general area of the wound and detecting via thermal imaging, the exact location and size of the wound. An example of this might be looking for and detecting an internal ulcer or an infection site not visible on the outside of the body. 
         [0041]    Of course, if the wound is plainly visible or pre-diagnosed, visual methods may be sufficient to locate the wound for the purpose of positioning the camera there over as described in the next step  302 . At step  302  the camera or detector is positioned very close to the wound but not in intimate contact with the wound. The distance from the wound and the detection system may vary somewhat within a range of about a few centimeters to a few decimeters. For wounds that are internal and some thickness away from the epithelial layer beyond a prescribed distance, for example, the system may actually contact the skin of a patient and may be pressed closer to an internal wound or infection site. 
         [0042]    At step  303 , the system may be powered on if it is not already powered on. There may be a power switch on the system or it may be powered on from the computer system. 
         [0043]    At step  304  the thermal radiation emanating from the wound site is recorded. In this step, electromagnetic radiation emanating from healthy tissue surrounding the wound site may also be recorded so that the system may have a baseline reading for comparison. Output from the thermal imaging unit is sent as a digital signal in step  305  to computer analysis software residing on a computing system in removable or static digital media. At step  306  the images captured during thermal imaging are analyzed and diagnostic results are rendered through algorithm and routines designed for the purpose. At step  307  a record may be made of patient results. Ongoing treatment of a wound may be monitored and repetitious thermal imaging sessions may be conducted, the results thereof calculated over time thereby providing information relative to success of specific treatments or regimens. 
         [0044]    One with skill in the art will appreciate that this processes is basic but may include more steps without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, a process step for canceling out ambient light or improving imaging contrast using one or more light sources may be included into the exemplary process. Other procedural steps may be inserted into this basic process depending on the type of wound the system is imaging. The process for thermal imaging of a diabetic ulcer may include more steps than one for imaging an external flesh wound such as a burn wound for example. 
         [0045]      FIG. 4  is a process flow chart illustrating steps  400  for thermal imaging according to another embodiment of the present invention. At step  401 , a patient with a wound for thermal imaging diagnosis is engaged. At step  402 , a baseline thermal Image or images are taken of healthy tissue to determine a healthy thermal pattern with which to compare thermal images taken from the wound area. In one embodiment, a hand-held thermal imaging system is used to take the images for the baseline reading. In another embodiment, the imaging system may be fixed on a stand or other stable structure and the patient may position themselves for the imaging session. 
         [0046]    At step  403  the imaging camera or detector (there may be more than one) is positioned or adjusted to detect the electromagnetic radiating from the healthy tissue. At step  404 , a practitioner or other authorized personnel such as a nurse or doctor or imaging specialist may power the thermal imaging system to on. This step may be performed at the location of the camera/detector or from the main computer tower. At step  405  the system records the thermal imagery which may be one or more than one snapshot of the radiating pattern expressed in the form of a color thermography image. A temperature scale may also be available as part of a thermography image to indicate what colors correspond with what temperature ranges. 
         [0047]    Image data from the infrared camera or detector is output at step  406  to a computer analysis program installed on a host computing appliance analogous to the computer and monitor system described further above. At this step data from healthy tissue is recorded and available to the system for comparison. The process may then move on to step  407  where the area of the wound is identified for imaging purposes. The wound area may be visible to a practitioner or it may be invisible (underneath the skin). Step  407  may involve using one or more infrared cameras to “look” for a spike in radiation emanating from an invisible so that correct thermal thermograph positioning may be undertaken. 
         [0048]    In any case at step  408  the detector or camera is positioned or repositioned, in the case of previous baseline reading, so that thermography images can be rendered of the targeted ground area. The process then resolves back to step  405  where the system records the thermal radiation as one or more than one thermal image. The following steps are the same as those or thermal imaging of healthy tissue. For example, at  406  the data is output to a computer analysis program analogous to SW  108  or SW  208  previously described. At step  409  the images taken of both the healthy tissue and the wound tissue are analyzed. The process may involve comparing the baseline image from the healthy tissue to the image from the wound tissue to determine the amount of difference in radiation between the two. If the baseline reading is stable and fairly constant it can be used as a marker of what the wound radiation needs to be lowered to. Typically speaking a wound may emanate a warmer radiation pattern than healthy tissue because of several factors. One is that increased blood flow created during the healing process may raise temperatures slightly around the wound site. 
         [0049]    Cell growth such as within a wound will cause more energy to be emitted. The emitted energy is what is important to measure to deduce the state of a wound against a baseline reading of healthy energy. On the other hand for some wounds Infrared signature can be caused by colder wounds such as chronic ulcers. For some wounds blood flow is actually reduced or does not reach the wound effectively and therefore the local radiation energy is below what a healthy signature might be. 
         [0050]    The emitted radiation must be deduced through algorithm during image analysis as both reflective radiation and transmitted radiation may also be present and detected by the imaging device or camera. Algorithms for image comparison and those for noise cancellation may be provided to obtain accurate thermal readings. In wound monitoring where periodic sessions are conducted the important data refers to the thermal response of the wound tissue to various treatments as a progression over time. In this way various treatments may be compared to one another for effectiveness. For example, for an infected wound, different antibiotics may produce different levels of metabolic activity in the wound tissue thus a different level of emitted radiation from the wound site. 
         [0051]    At step  410  the prognosis data is made a record for the patient. The patient data may include the actual thermal images in the form of j-peg or other image compression formats. It will be apparent to one with skill in the art of wound treatment and recovery that there are a variety of things that could increase electromagnetic thermal energy from a wound site. Elevations or spikes in thermal energy emitted from a wound site may be caused by increased blood flow, bacterial division, cell growth, antibody activity or other metabolic changes occurring over relatively short periods of time during the progression of the wound. Therefore, a spike in thermal energy emitted from a wound site can mean completely different things depending on the type of wound and treatment of the wound. SW routines used in analyzing thermal imaging data may vary according to wound type and expected treatments. 
         [0052]      FIG. 5  is a process flow chart illustrating steps  500  for thermal imaging according to another embodiment of the invention. At step  501  the patient having a wound to treat is engaged. It may be determined by a practitioner or other authorized medical worker whether a comparative analysis of wound thermography against a baseline thermography will be conducted as part of the thermal imaging process at step  502 . If at step  502  it is determined that a comparative analysis will be performed then at step  504  the practitioner may determine an area of healthy tissue from which to take baseline readings from to use for comparison against wound thermography. 
         [0053]    The process may then move to step  506  where the camera or detector is positioned to capture thermal radiation emanating from the healthy tissue selected for baseline reading. The system may be powered on at step  507 . At step  508 , the thermal imaging is performed. At this step one or more thermal images may be recorded. At step  509  the data is output from the imaging device to the computing system for use in computer based analysis. 
         [0054]    The process may move on to step  503  where the area of the wound on the patient is identified for thermal imaging of the wound. The process may also move directly to step  503  if at step  502  it is decided that a comparative analysis will not be performed. After the wound location has been identified for imaging purposes it may be determined at step  511  whether the wound will be pre-treated before imaging commences. Pre-treatment of a wound may involve purposeful heating of or cooling of the wound area before imaging. This may be for the purpose of beginning thermal recording at a preconditioned level of thermal emission from the wound. If at step  511  it is determined that the wound will be pre-treated before thermal imaging then at step  512  the wound site may be heated or cooled accordingly. 
         [0055]    If the wound site is on an extremity like a foot or hand then a special temperature control heating or cooling boot or glove may be worn for a prescribed period of time to obtain the desired pre-condition. Heat or cold displacement or decay rate from a wound site will be fairly consistent after the heating or cooling stimulus is removed. Deviations from the typical displacement rate in either direction can point to other sourced electromagnetic radiation such as emitted radiation that can be isolated and measured. 
         [0056]    In one embodiment the temperature controlled glove or boot is used to produce an artificial temperature state at the wound site the transition from which back to the actual thermal state of the wound is monitored with respect to time of completion of the transition and analyzed for comparative results. The changes in thermal transition time and rate of thermal decline or increase can be mapped comparatively to other sessions conducted at other times to isolate and identify prognostic data. 
         [0057]    If at step  511  it is determined that the wound will not be pretreated then the process may resolve to step  507  where the infrared imaging system is powered on. In the case of wound pretreatment at step  512  through heating or cooling, the process may also resolve to step  507  where the system is then powered on. In one embodiment the system is already powered on or remains powered on indefinitely. At step  508  the thermal radiation imaging of the wound site commences whether the wound is pretreated or not. At step  509  the image data is output to computer analysis. At step  510  the image data is analyzed and may be compared to any other data already acquired such as baseline data. At step  513  the results may be recorded and made part of the patient record. Pretreatment of a wound may include some other type of treatment that deviates from conventional heating or cooling and that may also have an affect on the overall level of radiation detected by one or more cameras. 
         [0058]      FIG. 6  is a process flow chart illustrating steps for thermal imaging according to yet another embodiment. At step  601  the patient is engaged by a practitioner who will perform or at least set up the imaging session. At step  602  it is determined if a comparative analysis will be done. If it is determined that a comparative analysis will be performed at step  602 , then at step  604  a baseline area is determined from whence a radiation pattern for healthy tissue can be deduced. If no comparative analysis is to be performed then the process moves to step  603  to identify the area of the wound to be imaged. 
         [0059]    In either case of step  602  at step  605  the cameras or detectors are positioned to capture thermal images. In this case there are more than two cameras or detectors and they can simultaneously render images from different viewpoints. These cameras may be mounted on a goniometric arc or path where the individual positions of the imaging devices can be changed at will. 
         [0060]    In the case where a baseline reading will be taken at step  604 , then steps  605  and  606  are executed as described earlier in other process flows. At step  607  the system captures the thermal images. In the case of imaging healthy tissue for a baseline reading, multiple cameras may or may not be used and position adjustment of cameras in step  608  may not be necessary. Likewise in the case of healthy tissue imaging, step  609  may be skipped and a single image signal may be output to analysis SW (that of the healthy tissue). The process may the resolve back to step  603  where the wound site is then identified for subsequent imaging of the wound. In the case of no comparative analysis then the process may move from step  601  to  603 . 
         [0061]    In the case of thermal imaging of the wound, at step  605  the cameras are positioned about a goniometer track or other apparatus for the purpose of imaging from different angles relative to the wound site. In one embodiment multiple devices are used to render streams that when combined might produce a tri-dimensional model of the wound radiation pattern. In this way depth of the wound and other information may be gathered that would not otherwise be available in a one dimensional thermal image. 
         [0062]    At step  606  the system is powered on and at step  607  thermal images are captured from the different angles of mounted cameras. It is noted herein that one camera may record thermal images from one position and then be moved to a second position for a subsequent image capture. Therefore step  608  is added for adjusting the position of a camera after a previous image capture session in order to commence a next image capture session. In the case of several cameras, all of the cameras may be moved to a next position and further imaging may commence. 
         [0063]    In the case of multiple thermal imaging devices step  609  is provided for merging or combining thermal image data signals output from the cameras before outputting a combined signal to analysis at step  610 . At step  611  then all of the imaging data may be analyzed including comparison against baseline data to produce useable results which can be recorded. The process may end at step  612  after clean results are recorded. It is noted herein that over multiple image sessions, previously recorded data results may be used in any of the algorithms supplied with SW to help generate prognosis data over time such as rate of tissue regeneration for a particular wound. There are many possibilities. 
         [0064]    It will be apparent to one with skill in the art that the thermal imaging system and methods of the invention may be provided using some or all of the mentioned features and components without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It will also be apparent to the skilled artisan that the embodiments described above are exemplary of inventions that may have far greater scope than any of the singular descriptions. There may be many alterations made in the descriptions without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.