Georgia Tech develops accurate thermal imaging for vital signs

Biomedical engineers at Georgia Tech have created a new system for thermal imaging that helps measure vital signs like heart rate, respiration, and body temperature. This method is unique because it does not require any physical contact with the patient. The team has improved conventional thermal imaging by reducing the effects of environmental heat that can interfere with the accuracy of measurements. Their findings are published in the journal Cell Reports Physical Science. Lead researcher Dingding Han stated that this technology could be a major advancement in biomedical diagnosis. Their system can accurately detect subtle temperature changes across different parts of the body, even in crowded scenes with multiple subjects. The researchers found they could assess changes in respiration rates before and after exercise effectively. To achieve this, they captured ten images using a long-wavelength infrared spectrum, which is not visible to the human eye. They applied advanced mathematical techniques called thermal phasor analysis to resolve fine textures and variations in temperature. This new approach is adaptable and can be integrated with standard thermal imaging equipment found in hospitals. Han is working on further developing this prototype to help detect breast cancer tumors early. She believes that abnormal cell activity leading to cancer can be identified through slight temperature differences. The research team aims to evolve this prototype into a more practical tool for clinical use, potentially transforming how doctors monitor and diagnose cancer. Han is hopeful that this could lead to significant advancements in early detection methods for various diseases.