Thermology is the medical science that derives diagnostic indications from highly detailed and sensitive infrared images of the human body. Medical Thermology is sometimes referred to as medical infrared imaging and utilizes highly resolute and sensitive infrared thermal imaging cameras.

Thermology is completely non-contact and non-invasive; and involves no form of energy imparted onto or into the body. Medical Infrared Thermology has recognized applications in breast oncology, chiropractic, dentistry, neurology, orthopedics, occupational medicine, pain management, vascular medicine/cardiology and veterinary medicine.

The term non-invasive in medicine means a medical procedure which does not penetrate mechanically, nor break the skin or a body cavity, i.e., it doesn't require an (invasive) incision into the body or the removal of biological tissue.

For centuries, physicians have employed many simple non-invasive methods based on physical parameters in order to assess body function in health and disease (physical examination and inspection), such as pulse-taking, the auscultation of heart sounds and lung sounds (using the stethoscope), temperature examination (using thermometers), respiratory examination, peripheral vascular examination, oral examination, abdominal examination, external percussion and palpation, blood pressure measurement (using the sphygmomanometer), change in body volumes (using plethysmograph), audiometry, eye examination and many others.

The discovery of the first modern non-invasive techniques based on physical methods, electrocardiography and X-rays, dates back to the end of the 19th century. Since then, non-invasive methods – which penetrate the body nonetheless, but by electromagnetic or particle radiation rather than a scalpel – have continuously enlarged the scope of medical technology.

This article was modified and reprinted from Wikipedia

Image Copyright 2010 Infrared Cameras Inc.