Just as point radiometers and digital cameras have come down in price so will thermal imaging cameras and today it is happening before our very eyes. Eventually every automobile mechanic, home inspector, HVAC inspector, mechanic, soldier, firefighter, and electrician will own a camera. Some may say “why”. The reason is actually very simple. Thermal imaging cameras allow human beings to see what they cannot see in the visible spectrum with their own eyes. Therefore it gives humans that sixth sense that so many (mostly Hollywood) have often referred. Eventually thermal imaging systems will replace point radiometers used in many process control applications.

Many very bright business executives intimately involved in this technology have known this for some time. It is for this reason those corporations and many others involved in manufacturing infrared cameras, thermal cameras, optics, software, and sensor electronics have gotten on the band wagon.

So, this being the case, why haven’t cameras that have the ability to accurately measure the temperature of human skin and possibly diagnose a disease such as breast cancer, prostate cancer, skin cancer, thyroid problems, pain issues and numerous other medical applications exploded into general practices and hospitals around the country.  They have done so in every major manufacturing and even small manufacturing facility in the U.S. and around the world. We use them daily to diagnose temperature on motors, engines, turbines, electrical equipment, etc. So, why not the human body? In some countries around the world use is growing, but in the United States because of an AMA decision made years ago caused by a few unethical doctors and chiropractors there is no CPT code to legally charge for an examination. Doctors will not typically purchase systems unless they have the ability to have it reimbursed by an insurance company, Medicare, or Medicaid. I sincerely believe this technology can save lives. Actually I know it can, because it is being used in a hand full of U.S. clinics and hospitals today. I would just like five minutes to plead my case to President Obama and I believe this would change.

Honestly, how can we use a technology to save a $200 electric motor and not use it to help diagnose or save a human life. I am writing and will publish this letter in the hope that someone out there will listen to their own common sense and do something about what I sincerely believe is a tragedy.

Today, and I mean literally today, we are fielding numerous phone calls and e-mails from airports, states, countries, and local government looking for cameras to identify persons with Swine Flu or the H1N1 virus. This is an outstanding application for radiometric infrared cameras also known as radiometric thermal imaging systems. There are numerous camera manufacturers, but there are actually only about seven companies world wide that manufacture true imaging radiometers. Measuring temperature accurately is no trivial task. Most infrared cameras sold on the market today are simply qualitative cameras. What I mean is they give you a thermal picture and no actual data. Most U.S. made qualitative imagers available have an NTSC or RCA output. Elsewhere in Europe for example and most of the world PAL is the most common.  This simply means you can plug the camera into a standard video camcorder, VCR, clamshell, or DVD recorder and record thermal video. These qualitative cameras will not however give you a temperature measurement. To keep this writing in simple terms in order to measure temperature the system has to have very special electronics, software or firmware and has to go through and elaborate calibration process. Even some of the seven manufacturers do not calibrate the systems in order to insure the very best accuracy. Measurement accuracy can be very critical, especially when you may make or miss a flight because of it. 

Back in August of 2008 the U.S. Center for Disease Control issued a contract proposal for various companies to supply quantitative infrared cameras (radiometric thermal imaging systems) to possibly be used for as outbreak which has happened now and during the SARS epidemic in 2002. We bid on this contract as we are one of only a few companies who have U.S. FDA 510 K clearance to sell our cameras so they can be used in a hospital, airport, or doctor’s office. Oddly enough the CDC which was using the J.H. Stronger Hospital in Chicago said they were not requiring FDA clearance in order to use them to measure the temperature of the human body. I said “why did I have to go through the pain, and it was painful, (several years) and expense of getting FDA clearance if anyone could sell a camera to our government to measure temperature of the human body"? Needless to say I believe every Infrared Camera manufacturer in the world is getting slammed with requests for radiometric infrared cameras now!

by Gary Strahan
CEO Infrared Cameras Inc.

About the Author:

Gary Strahan, is founder and CEO of Infrared Cameras Inc.  He is a certified underwater welder and welding inspector, as well as an ASNT Level III in thermography, ultrasound, liquid penetrant, and magnetic particle inspection. He is also a Level III ASNT Certified Thermography Instructor with over 30 years experience in this field.