ITC InfraMation - = March 2004

If you can't see the graphic version = of this=20 message please change your profile to receive text messages at=20 {{user("unsubaddr")}}
To view this message on the web go to http://www.itcnews= letter.com/2004/2004-03.htm

March=20 2004

Volume 5, Issue=20 3

In This=20 Issue:=20

Welcome

IR in the News

ITC Message Board Posts

Medical Infrared Imaging

Brainteaser of the Month

Last Month's Brainteaser

Past Issues

Upcoming Classes

About the ITC

Call for Papers

Click=20 here

Hello Again=20 {{user("firstname")}},

We're glad to=20 have you with us.

Our bulletin=20 boards have been active with many posts this last month. Check out = a=20 selection of the latest posts; you might find some information that = will directly=20 help you.

Our main=20 article this month, about breast cancer thermography, provides = information that=20 could directly affect many of us. Read about how infrared can = provide an=20 additional diagnostic modality to detect this disease.

Can=20 you find the unusual thermal pattern(s) in our latest Brainteaser? = Check=20 it out and let me know what you think at Brainteaser of the Month.

If you want to=20 save this newsletter for viewing off line in your computer, just = go to the=20 web page using=20 your browser and select File....Save As or save this email = page as html in=20 your email software.

See you next=20 month,

Gary=20 Orlove,
Editor and = Publisher

IR in the=20 News [top]

Space Shuttle Processing Status=20 Report
Spaceflight=20 Now, FL - Feb 28, 2004
... All = of=20 Atlantis' Reinforced Carbon-Carbon (RCC) panels were removed,=20 shipped
to the vendor for inspection and thermography, = and=20 returned to KSC for ...
Full steam ahead for = Cheyenne
Yachting=20 World, UK - Feb 28, 2004
... We = also=20 used an infrared camera that looks like a video = camera but=20 sees in
the infra red spectrum, distinguishing between hot = and cold=20 objects. ...
Nation / World
Birmingham Post = Herald, AL - Feb 26,=20 2004
... The Oak Ridge team tested the technique =97 = infrared=20 thermography =97 on 40 ... Researchers
used an=20 infrared camera capable of detecting temperature = changes=20 of 15 ...
Fast ferry was built with Rochester = and 9-11 in=20 mind
WHEC-TV, NY - Feb 17,=20 2004
... An infrared camera detects = anything=20 remotely different on the water including ice
and small boats = and the=20 security camera system can follow anyone, anywhere on = ...=20
Dark Age for astronomy as Hubble's = window on the=20 universe begins ...
Independent, UK - Feb 16,=20 2004
... One of the instruments that would be placed = on the=20 telescope is a new
infrared camera which would = be=20 perfect for the work we want to do. ...
Consumer Watch Great Electric Grills
KFOXtv.com, TX - Feb=20 16, 2004
... Testers use an infrared = camera to=20 see how evenly the grills heat. After preheating
the grills, = a=20 picture is taken. All of them scored very well. ... =
No More Sweaty Feet Thanks to Adidas.....and = ThermaCAM=AE=20 Infrared ...
Process & Control = Today, UK - Feb=20 16, 2004
Note space program = spinoffs
Oregonian, OR - Feb=20 15, 2004
Artificial heart, balance evaluation systems,=20 infrared camera, jewelry design, = land-mine
removal=20 device, prosthesis material, vehicle tracking system, video=20 ...
Jefferson City area firms offer mold = remediation,=20 prevention for ...
Jefferson City News = Tribune, MO - Feb=20 13, 2004
... said. Turner uses thermal = imaging=20 cameras to detect trapped moisture
behind walls. The company = also=20 uses sensitive moisture meters. ...
American Armature alternates=20 owners
Tiffin = Advertiser=20 Tribune, OH - Feb 12, 2004
...=20 converter,'' he said. Also new is the use of thermal=20 imaging to show
hot spots or defects in motors or the = controls=20 themselves. "It can ...
Thermal Imagery Tracks Down Diseased = Cells
KTVU.com, CA - Feb 6,=20 2004
Recent studies show infrared- or thermal = imaging=20 can spot breast cancer years before
a lump develops or can = quickly=20 ease one's fears by showing that a lump is ...=20

ITC=20 Message Board Posts [top]

Our message boards = have been=20 busy. Here is a selection of recent new threads by IR Community = members.=20 Feel free to click the links, see how people have responded, and = post your=20 own response if you like.

Electrical Distribution Arrestors=20
Looking for anyone with experience scanning electrical = distribution=20 type lightning arrestors. Is it possible to determine expected = failures=20 at specified high temperature extremes?
Any help is greatly=20 appreciated.
Fro= nt=20 car window temperature profile--HELP!!
One manufacturer = of car=20 windows ask to me to inspected the temperature loss of car front = window=20 when this window travels thru conveyor after leaving a furnace = in the=20 process.. the window is sandwich type, means that all front cars = windows=20 are 2 glass layers (1/8")and in the middle plastic film which = prevents=20 that shatter fly away when crash occurs. The conveyor is 45 feet = long=20 and this guys want to see how temperature drops from beginning = to end of=20 line. (after furnace and before the next process) My concern is = that the=20 material to be inspected is transparent GLASS. I will try to = determine=20 if it is possible to paint one window from scrap to make test. = Any ideas=20 will be appreciated.
Inf= rared=20 Imaging
I am trying to make a uniform light sheet from = LASER in=20 the infrared range . The wavelength range is from 8-12 um. Can = anybody=20 suggest what kind of material can be used
How to do to start a business?
I am=20 working as electrician for 20 years and I am really interested = by=20 extending my knowledge with the thermography. I had already = taken some=20 information but if any one could give me some helpful advices to = start=20 my own company, it will be great. electrical predictive = maintenance)=20
I am working in heavy industries on/offshore, and I realize = how I=20 could make one step ahead in my career. I actually work = 28on/28off, so I=20 have free period to do some training and research.
Bra= in=20 thermography
I understand that FLIR is working with = hospitals for=20 thermography research at brain surgery, is there a site where i = can=20 found some images, or if you have some I will appreciate if you = give me=20 some at info@thermoimagen.com
Thermography at -30
We = are doing some=20 brainstorming up here in the artic, and would like some help. = Does=20 anyone have some good ideas at doing thermography in temp -30 to = -60.=20 The operating temperature for our camera is -15 to 50C. We are = wanting=20 to do analysis on experimental hydraulic motors operating at a = mine,=20 located inside the artic circle. Waiting till summer is not a = viable=20 option.
Evaluation of Rooftop Garden or other reflective heat=20 treatments?
I am working with a = graduate=20 student doing his thesis on the effectiveness of different types = of=20 roofing systems designed to mitigate the heat island effect in = large=20 urban areas. He is primarily interested in rooftop gardens, and = since=20 the vast majority of literature he's run across tends toward the = anecdotal, he'd like to design some experiments to quantify = their=20 effectiveness and perhaps compare a few different designs to = some=20 control standard.

The problem=20 is that we're located in a rural area on the coast in the = Pacific=20 Northwest. The heat island effect is a mere figment of our = imagination=20 in these parts, so we'll have to construct an indoor simulation = using a=20 couple of 1000W HPS lights and small (say 3x3 foot) mini-roof = systems=20 built on carts.

The thrust=20 of the experiment isn't so much to prove that one roof system is = more=20 effective than any other so much as it is to show that IRT is = one means=20 by which we can move beyond the anecdotal to provide a = quantitative=20 means of verifying that such systems can in fact be effective.=20

I'm curious=20 as to whether anybody can't point to any related research, = anything at=20 all involving the use of IRT to evaluate the thermal performance = of=20 building envelope features, specifically roofing if possible, in = a lab=20 setting. It will be useful not just for the experiment design = but in=20 order to ensure that this guy's thesis has a comprehensive = literature=20 review.
Bare process piping & corrosion under=20 insulation
I'm using FLIR=20 ThermaCAM.

Q1. Is there=20 a way whereby we can interpret the color variances on the bare = process=20 piping into wall thickness (mm)?

Q2. Has=20 there been any study on corrosion under insulation? If any, = could=20 someone out there send me the documentation/application=20 concerned?
Transparent material used for an infared = region?
I need to burn small fire inside a transparent = enclosure,=20 apparently glass is not good because of the reflection. is there = any=20 other transparent material I can use to make an enclosure and IR = camera=20 can detect the fire inside of it?
thermography at welding applications
do anybody have some info about this topic? where i = can read=20 something about?..
Voice Comment
After saving = an IR image=20 and voice comment on my camera, I then downloaded the files to a = laptop.=20 I can't hear or locate the voice comment on the laptop but the = image is=20 fine. The camera is a p40, Thank You for any help.
STATOR COIL CONNECTIONS
I = have a=20 client here who has requested me to scan stator coils = connections at the=20 exciter and turbine ends to locate overheating joints. This scan = is=20 basically to be done after they are through with a rewinding job = on the=20 generator.

Would you=20 have any examples regarding similar jobs you may have done = previously=20 that can add value to my scanning.? If so, kindly please forward = via=20 email.

Personally I=20 was thinking of setting up the equipment at either end of the = generator=20 (the coil connections are clearly visible from either end), and=20 requesting them to run the machine while I save images = (definitely after=20 doing the right settings for the scanner).
Temperature Calculations
I = seem to=20 recall a formula to estimate the projected temp. increase of a=20 connection running at a fraction of it's rated capacity if the = capacity=20 is increased "X". . Eg. ... fuse clips running at 42 deg.C at = 24% of=20 rated current. What would be the projected temp. increase if the = current=20 draw was doubled, tripled... Any guidance appreciated. =
Thermography and Fuses??? =
How would=20 you explain to an electrical manager that you must analyze a = fuse/fuse=20 block differently than you would a generic connection? =
Skin vs Insulation Temp
Does anyone=20 have any knowledge or references on figuring out the temp of the = insulation of a motor based on skin temp of the motor. =

What is=20 expectable for the skin temp of a motor with F insulation class? =
Thermography in Fired Heaters =
When=20 gathering data to calculate emissivity for tubes in fired = heaters should=20 we try to gain the flame temperature as this is likely to be the = highest=20 reflected temperature seen on the heater tubes. This is going to = be=20 significantly higher than the surrounding refractory = temperature.=20
Operation in Highly Magnetic field
Is=20 it affect the operation of the ThermoVision camera, while = working in=20 highly magnetic field such as in DC high voltage area. We are in = doubt,=20 If anybody can clarify, please? We have AGEMA-550 camera. =
Ele= ctric=20 motors & pumps
I need any information on IR = applicable to=20 electric motors and pumps. Does the size of the motor influence = running=20 temperature? Do load on the motor make a difference to running=20 temperature and if so how? Bearing temperatures in working = conditions?=20 How does the material pumped influence working temperatures? =

I am doing 2=20 weekly inspections on 200kw electric motors turning slurry pumps = via=20 belts. The motor is mounted on top of the pumps with a pulley on = the=20 drive end. Gold slurry is being pumped 24 hours per day. =
Furnace Tubes
I know how = to measure=20 skin temps through oil fired and natural gas fired burners but I = tried=20 to measure through an oxygen burner flame and could not see = through this=20 flame with an Agema 550. How would I go about taking = measurements=20 through this type of flame. Does it require a different filter = or is=20 there some other form of adjustment.
Mechanical stress on pipe flanges Needs a=20 response, can anyone help?
I am interested = by any=20 document, advice, etc, concerning the possible use of infrared=20 thermography for the detection of badly mounted mechanical = flanges,=20 inducing an excess of stress and a high risk of rupture. This = concerns=20 more particularly pipes transporting highly flammable liquid.=20
Info. downloads
Is there a = place I can=20 download some info.... an intro. To the ir camera for moisture = detection=20 that I can put on my reports to realtors? Or maybe an info. for = many=20 different applications?

And of course=20 if YOU have a question or want to start a discussion on a = topic, we=20 would love to hear from you. Just post a new thread on a mes= sage=20 board.

Medical Infrared=20 Imaging [top]

by Tirza = Derflinger, The=20 Thermogram Center and
Dr. Robert Kane, International Academy of = Clinical Thermology

Medical infrared = imaging (MII) is=20 becoming a common screening modality in the areas of = neuromusculoskeletal=20 injury, cancer, and circulatory pathology. As a physiological = imaging=20 modality that assesses body function, it can indicate developing = disease=20 states =96 and breast cancer =96 earlier than anatomical = examinations. It is=20 highly accurate and 100% safe, involving no radiation or=20 contact.

MII is helpful=20 for chronic pain, disease processes, and monitoring treatment=20 effectiveness on physiology. MII can help to identify sources of = pain,=20 particularly those involving the neuromuscular and circulatory = systems.=20 Additionally, because every organ reflects itself on the skin = surface,=20 organ stress/compromise can be monitored. If disease processes are = present, thermographic signs may present themselves before = symptoms become=20 apparent, enabling early intervention and treatment.

The FDA=20 approved the technology for adjunctive breast cancer screening in = 1982,=20 and it has been recognized as a viable diagnostic tool since 1987 = by the=20 AMA council on Scientific Affairs, the ACA Council on Diagnostic = Imaging=20 and the Congress of Neuro-Surgeons since 1988, and the American = Academy of=20 Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation since 1990. Research = indicates that=20 it is extremely effective in diagnosing most types of back, neck, = and limb=20 pain, especially latent or intractable types of pain = syndromes.

Four ways=20 in which MII services help physicians and their breast=20 patients:

offers a=20 breast screening option for women reluctant to radiation=20 methods
enables=20 very early breast cancer detection =96 even with negative=20 mammogram
provides=20 compelling physiological data useful in determining the = necessity for=20 biopsy following suspicious/inconclusive = mammogram
monitors=20 estrogen activity in the breasts

The breast=20 imaging procedure is based on the principle that chemical and = blood vessel=20 activity in both pre-cancerous tissue and the area surrounding a=20 developing breast cancer is almost always higher than in the = normal=20 breast. Since pre-cancerous and cancerous masses are highly = metabolic=20 tissues, they need an abundant supply of nutrients to maintain = their=20 growth. In order to do this they increase circulation to their = cells by=20 secreting chemicals to keep existing blood vessels open, recruit = dormant=20 vessels, and create new ones (neoangiogenesis). This process = results in an=20 increase in regional surface temperatures of the breast. =

State-of-the-art applications use ultra-sensitive = infrared cameras=20 and sophisticated computers to detect, analyze, and produce=20 high-resolution diagnostic images of these temperature and = vascular=20 changes.

Click images to see higher resolution versions

This 35=20 year-old patient (above) had a normal mammogram the month prior to = infrared imaging. Armed with a diagnostic report including = severely=20 abnormal findings in the right breast, the patient requested a = biopsy and=20 discovered Stage I cancer with a 1cm lump, a second smaller lump, = and=20 lymph node involvement. Chemotherapy was initiated. (Note two = abnormal=20 thermal findings consistent with cancer: vascular signs of=20 neoangiogenesis, shown in grayscale, and abnormally-high = temperatures,=20 shown in color.)

This patient was scheduled for biopsy of the left = outer=20 breast, which showed no thermal findings of excess heat or = vascular=20 markings. As a result, additional anatomical exams were ordered. = Their=20 findings supported the thermal findings and the patient was spared = the=20 biopsy procedure. Note the excess of heat and vascular markings of = the=20 right breast, circled. These findings are abnormal and are being = monitored=20 closely by infrared imaging.

=93=85 80% of biopsies yield benign = results=85=94 Source: Radiology Today, v3no7

By = carefully=20 examining aspects of temperature and blood vessels of the breasts, = signs=20 of possible cancer or pre-cancerous cell growth may be detected up = to 10=20 years prior to being discovered using any other procedure. This = provides=20 the earliest detection of cancer possible. Because of infrared = imaging=92s=20 extreme sensitivity, these temperature variations and vascular = changes may=20 be among the earliest signs of breast cancer and/or a = pre-cancerous state=20 of the breast. (3,6,7,8,9)

Thermal=20 studies of the breast have been researched for over 30 years, and = over 800=20 peer-reviewed studies exist in the index-medicus. Over 3,000 = articles are=20 accessible through MedLine. Over 300,000 women have been included = as study=20 participants, with many studies including 37,000 to 118,000 women. = Some of=20 these studies have followed patients up to 12 years.

Studies=20 show that:

Infrared=20 imaging of the breasts has an average sensitivity and = specificity of=20 90%.
An abnormal=20 infrared image is the single most important marker of high risk = for=20 developing breast cancer, 8 times more significant than a first = order=20 family history of the disease (5).
A persistent=20 abnormal thermogram caries with it a 22x higher risk of future = breast=20 cancer.
When added=20 to a woman's regular breast health checkups, a 61% increased = survival=20 rate has been realized.
Finally,=20 when used as part of a multimodal approach (clinical examination = +=20 mammography + infrared imaging) 95% of early stage cancers = will be=20 detected.

In = the absence=20 of other positive tests, an abnormal infrared image gives a woman = early=20 warning and the need for intervention, or change in lifestyle, = diet, or=20 other breast health factors. By maintaining close monitoring of = her breast=20 health with serial infrared imaging, a woman can monitor breast = health and=20 has a much better chance of detecting cancer at its earliest stage = and=20 preventing invasive tumor growth.

Pre=20 = Treatment &nbs= p; =20 Post Treatment

Inherent=20 in MII is its capability to assess vascular aspects of the = breast,=20 which are influenced by hormone activity. Monitoring the = hormonal=20 balance of the breast is important since prolonged exposure = to=20 excess estrogen is a leading cause of breast cancer and = since breast=20 tissue can hold 10 to 50 times more estrogen than levels = typically=20 revealed in blood tests, according to the National = Institutes of=20 Health.

Note the=20 extent of vasodilation and heat in the pre-treatment images, = relative to the post treatment images. Treatment involved 12 = months=20 of dietary changes and use of liver supplements and DIM,=20 diindolylmethane. Note the significant reduction in = vasodilation as=20 well as increased symmetry of thermal patterns in the color=20 post-treatment image, suggesting improved breast=20 health.

Since=20 infrared imaging does not have the ability to pinpoint specific = tumor=20 locations, it=92s role is in addition to mammography and physical=20 examination: the tests are not substitutes for each other. Because = 1 in 8=20 women will get breast cancer, we must use every means possible to = detect=20 cancers when there is the greatest chance for survival (1). =

The addition=20 of infrared imaging to the frontline of early breast cancer = detection=20 brings a great deal of good news for women.

For more=20 information, visit http://www.thermogramcenter.com= /=20 or http://www.iact-org.org/.=20
For case studies, visit http://www.pacificchiro.com/pacific_chiropractic_and_= research/publications_page.htm.=20 For extensive information on breast imaging, visit http://www.breastthermography= .com/.

Tirza and=20 Dr. Kane can be reached at 303-664-1139 and 650-568-9292=20 respectively.

References=20

1. American Cancer Society =96 Breast Cancer Guidelines = and=20 Statistics, 1999

2. I. Nyirjesy, M.D. et al; Clinical Evaluation, = Mammography and=20 Thermography in the Diagnosis of Breast Carcinoma. Thermology, = 1986; 1:=20 170-173.

3. M. Gautherie, Ph.D.; Thermobiological Assessment of = Benign and=20 Malignant Breast Diseases. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol., 1983; V 147, = No. 8:=20 861-869.

4. C. Gros, M.D., M. Gautherie, Ph.D.; Breast = Thermography and=20 Cancer Risk Prediction. Cancer, 1980; V 45, No. 1: 51-56. =

5. P. Haehnel, M.D., M. Gautherie, Ph.D. et al; Long-Term = Assessment of Breast Cancer Risk by Thermal Imaging. In: = Biomedical=20 Thermology, 1980; 279-301.

6. P. Gamigami, M.D.; Atlas of Mammography: New Early = Signs in=20 Breast Cancer. Blackwell Science, 1996.

7. J. Keyserlingk, M.D.; Time to Reassess the Value of = Infrared=20 Breast Imaging? Oncology News Int., 1997; V 6, No. 9.

8. P.Ahlgren, M.D., E. Yu, M.D., J. Keyserlingk, M.D.; Is = it Time=20 to Reassess the Value of Infrared Breast Imaging? Primary Care = &=20 Cancer (NCI), 1998; V 18, No. 2.

9. N. Belliveau, M.D., J. Keyserlingk, M.D. et al ; = Infrared=20 Imaging of the Breast: Initial Reappraisal Using High-Resolution = Digital=20 Technology in 100 Successive Cases of Stage I and II Breast = Cancer. Breast=20 Journal, 1998; V 4, No. 4

Editor's=20 note: Tirza and Dr. Kane each receive an InfraMation Executive = Attach=E9 in=20 appreciation for their article=20 contribution.