Patent Abstract:
An apparatus for three-dimensional thermal imaging in medical applications, said apparatus comprising a power supply, user interface controls, focal plane array (FPA), electronics, and optics. It provides two real-time viewable IR channels for binocular vision with a variable focus distance which can be optimized at any distance from six inches to infinity. The present invention enables 3-D vision in the thermal band for greater awareness of everything within the field of view. Potential medical applications are discussed and presented.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This Application Claims rights under 35 USC §119(e) from U.S. Application Ser. No. 62/072,554 filed Oct. 30, 2014, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. This application is related to U.S. application Ser. No. 13/948,526 filed Jul. 23, 2013, the contents of which are incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT INTEREST 
       [0002]    The invention was made with United States Government assistance under Contract No. H94003-04-D-0002/0076 awarded by the Department of the Navy. The United States Government has certain rights in the invention. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0003]    This invention relates to thermal imaging and more particularly to three-dimensional (3-D) infrared (IR) imaging. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    As is known in the industry, there are a number of ways to achieve three dimensional (3-D) infrared (IR) imaging. One way uses a 3-D scanner and camera using IR light-emitting diodes (LEDs). It uses an image sensor with pixels sensitive in the visual band to acquire a conventional image and pixels sensitive in the IR band to acquire the depth of what is imaged. 
         [0005]    Another way relates a 3-D interface using IR light and IR detectors to interact with spatial-temporal data. The apparatus allows a user to model and analyze three-dimensional surfaces by manipulation of glass beads. An array of LEDs under the beads emits IR light through the beads and a camera captures the data. 
         [0006]    Another way uses a 3-D thermal imaging system. The apparatus uses two thermal imaging cameras. It uses a master camera and a subservient camera which corrects gain and offset of the master camera. It combines temperature data with 3-D thermal imaging data to provide a 3-D thermal image. 
         [0007]    An improved way, however, is still necessary to achieve high-quality 3-D IR images for use in medical applications. Thus, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention is an apparatus for three-dimensional thermal imaging in medical applications. This apparatus includes an imaging device or FPA sensitive to thermal radiation, a power supply, control switches and/or user interface controls, electronics, an image display, objective optics and display optics. It provides two real-time viewable IR channels for binocular vision with a variable focus distance which can be optimized at any distance from six inches to infinity. The present invention enables 3-D vision in the thermal band for greater awareness of everything within the field of view (FOV) from very close to distant objects and scenes. 
         [0009]    The present disclosure can also be viewed as providing a method of presenting anatomical features to medical personnel performing a medical procedure on a patient. In this regard, one embodiment of such a method, among others, can be broadly summarized by the following steps: stereographically imaging the anatomical feature so as to provide two stereo infrared channels of images; and displaying the images carried by the infrared channels on a 3-D monitor, such that the 3-D representation of said anatomical feature is accentuated both as to identity and as to depth by the 3-D representation. 
         [0010]    The present disclosure can also be viewed as providing a medical imaging system for providing 3-D representations of thermal images of a subsurface anatomical feature of a patient. Briefly described, in architecture, one embodiment of the system, among others, can be implemented as follows. A 3-D monitor presents a three-dimensional image on a screen thereof. A pair of co-located infrared cameras each has an optical axis, each of said infrared cameras, having an output. A housing for said infrared cameras includes a subassembly for skewing the optical axes of said cameras to impinge on a point spaced from said cameras and adapted to detect one of said anatomical features thereat. A pair of optical image transmission channels is each coupled to a different one of said infrared cameras at one end and said 3-D monitor at the other end for inputting to said 3-D monitor a pair of stereoscopic images such that a stereoscopic image is presented on said 3-D monitor of said anatomical feature to show said anatomical feature and the depth of said anatomical feature in a three-dimensional representation of said anatomical feature. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    These and other features of the subject invention will be better understood in connection with the Detailed Description in conjunction with the Drawings of which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective drawing showing a preferred embodiment of a dual channel imager system of the invention with an example user setting; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic illustration of the two infrared channel system which is utilized to drive a 3-D monitor for the display of subsurface anatomical features of a patient undergoing examination and/or treatment; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a diagrammatic illustration of a stereoscopic two channel infrared detection system for use in the system of  FIG. 1  showing side-by-side, infrared cameras and focal plane arrays, with each of the cameras being adjustable and focused on to near in objects to provide high quality infrared imaging; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is an internal view of a dual channel imager showing major components including the adjustment of the two cameras relative to each other to provide near in focusing; and, 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram of the dual channel imager shown in  FIG. 4 , showing the stereoscopic camera and the two optical channel transmission system for coupling the output of the camera to an analog video monitor for the presentation of the three-dimensional image. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective drawing showing a preferred embodiment of a dual channel imager system of the invention with an example user setting. Specifically,  FIG. 1  is an example diagrammatic illustration of the utilization of the subject binocular infrared system for identifying blood vessels in the arm of a patient undergoing a phlebotomy. The presented invention is envisioned to have utility in identifying blood vessels in the arm of a patient and other medical procedures where depth perception is important as a diagnostic aid. 
         [0018]    In the illustrated system, subsurface anatomical features, for instance, in the arm  16  of a patient  18  are detected through a binocular infrared camera system  10  which is focused on the subsurface region of the patient&#39;s arm as illustrated at  16 . Here, the output of camera  10 , is coupled to a 3-D monitor  20  which produces a three-dimensional image  22  of the patient&#39;s arm, and more particularly, a subsurface vein, such as vein  24  which is shown in three dimensions to be a certain distance from the surface of the patient&#39;s arm. This representation of subsurface anatomical features is an improvement over the presentation of a two-dimensional image in that by viewing the monitor a physician can obtain a sense of the depth of the anatomical feature. Note that any conventional 3-D monitoring system which has stereoscopic channels as inputs is within the scope of the subject invention. The system is useful not only in the phlebotomy example shown, but also is useful in surgical procedures to give the surgeon a three-dimensional view of the subsurface anatomical feature to be operated on. 
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic illustration of the two infrared channel system which is utilized to drive a 3-D monitor for the display of subsurface anatomical features of a patient undergoing examination and/or treatment. While the features of the stereo infrared camera are shown in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/948,526 as well as its ability to focus in on near in subsurface objects through the canting of the two individual cameras utilized, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the stereo camera is comprised of cameras  30  and  32  having objective lenses, respectively  34  and  36 , that can be focused to a point  38 . The output of each of these cameras is applied to a first optical channel  40  and a second optical channel  42  which are multiplexed at  44  and transmitted as illustrated at  46  to a demultiplexing circuit  48 . The output of demultiplexing circuit  48  reconstructs optical channels  40  and  42  as optical channels  50  and  52  which are coupled to a conventional 3-D monitor such as monitor  20  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is a diagrammatic illustration of a stereoscopic two channel infrared detection system for use in the system of  FIG. 1  showing side-by-side, infrared cameras and focal plane arrays, with each of the cameras being adjustable and focused on to near in objects to provide high quality infrared imaging. Referring to  FIG. 3 , in one embodiment, the stereoscopic camera of  FIG. 1  includes two separate cameras  60  and  62 , each having an optical center line, respectively  64  and  66 , which are aimed at point  38  in  FIG. 2 . Cameras  60  and  62  have individual FPGAs  70  and  72  mounted on respective carriages  74  and  76 , with the carriages movable in the direction of double ended arrows  78  and  80  respectively. In this embodiment, the carriages are supported by a wheeled structure  82  having a pair of wheels  84 . On the other side of carriage  74  and  76  is a drive wheel structure  86  to provide for focusing in each of the optical channels provided by these two cameras. 
         [0021]      FIG. 4  is an internal view of a dual channel imager showing major components including the adjustment of the two cameras relative to each other to provide near in focusing. From a diagrammatic point of view, and referring now to  FIG. 4 , each of the cameras  60  and  62  are mounted for securing adjustment, as illustrated by double ended arrows  100  so that the optical center lines of these cameras can be directed to a predetermined point. Each of these cameras includes an objective lens, thermal sensor, image processing, and electronics  102 , and MUX circuits  104  adapted to be connected to monitor  20 . Coupled to the camera are user controls  106  and a power supply  108 , with the adjustment of the pointing direction of each of these cameras being adjustable, as illustrated by double ended arrow  110  so as to be able to cant the cameras with each respect to each other. 
         [0022]    The objective optics focuses the thermal scene onto the FPA. The lens focus is adjustable from a near object distance of 6 inches to a far object distance of infinity. 
         [0023]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram of the dual channel imager shown in  FIG. 4 , showing the stereoscopic camera and the two optical channel transmission system for coupling the output of the camera to an analog video monitor for the presentation of the three-dimensional image. Referring now to  FIG. 5 , in one embodiment, the stereoscopic infrared camera shown is MedicEye  112  having two output ports  114  and  116  coupled to respective camera link modules  118  and  120  to which power is supplied by respective Elpack bricks  122  and  124 . Camera link modules  118  and  120  are coupled to a computer  126  having an external hard drive  128 , with the output of the camera link modules being applied to an analog video monitor  20  for the purpose of presenting the required 3-D image to the medical professional. 
         [0024]    In operation, and referring now to the system level block diagram of  FIG. 5 , this diagram shows the major electrical interfaces and how the communication protocol is implemented. Long wave infrared (LWIR) data is transmitted from the LWIR cameras of MedicEye camera  112  to the MedicEye computer  126  over a CameraLink interface involving camera link modules  118  and  120 . An Imprex dual PC-Express frame grabber installed in the MedicEye computer and associated FrameLink Software (SW) enables real-time monochrome display of data and data stream capture in the two optical channels in the form of a numbered TIF sequence. Gain &amp; level of the displayed data is controlled by adjusting the FrameLink high &amp; low histogram points. Note that the FrameLink software is described in PCT/US2014/060897 filed Oct. 16, 2014 entitled Medical Thermal Imaging Processing for Vein Detection incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0025]    It will be appreciated that by providing stereoscopic information to a 3-D monitor, the result is a three-dimensional image portrayed on the monitor which is useful for the medical community to be able to visualize the position of subsurface features and to be able to conduct either diagnosis or treatment, including surgery, in a manner in which two-dimensional displays are incapable. 
         [0026]    The subject system may be utilized for intravenous vessel detection, bone ablation and deburring, bleed detection during surgery and dental health procedures, including detection of tooth health by direct IR imagery. This may also include the use of reflective technology, including, an IR dental mirror. 
         [0027]    While the present invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiments of the various Figures, it is to be understood that other similar embodiments may be used or modifications or additions may be made to the described embodiment for performing the same function of the present invention without deviating therefrom. Therefore, the present invention should not be limited to any single embodiment, but rather construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the recitation of the appended Claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6