An examination by a veterinarian often explains a horse’s leg problems and provides direction for treatment. However, sometimes a physical examination does not offer enough guidance for treatment. Horses have minor injuries that may result in permanent harm. They need to be identified and treated.

Some equine injuries can go for a long time without a diagnosis. Sometimes the injuries are tricky to identify using typical veterinarian examinations. A thermography camera (Digital Infrared Thermographic Imaging, or DITI) can quickly and easily make a thermographic image of the entire horse. These thermographic scans often show stress sites, multiple injuries, or referred pain syndromes in horses. These can very often indicate the causes, and/or the symptoms, of an equine problem.

Medical thermographic scans are non-invasive. The technique involves no risks, and there are never side effects. An x-ray bombards the body with radiation and requires the horse be anesthisized. The thermography camera detects heat emitted by the body.

The horse owner has the option of getting a thermographic image of the entire horse, or only suspect areas.

The equine body is naturally symmetric, and thermal patterns should be the same on both sides of the body (in most cases). Thermographic scans accurately show heat patterns allowing the veterinary thermologist to look for asymmetry to indicate abnormal function or physiology. Hyperthermic patterns (warmer temperatures) will display as warmer colors like yellow or red. Hypothermic patterns will display as cooler colors like blue. Vets can use these scans to both identify soft-tissue and skeletal problems in horses andmonitor therapy.

At Clinical Thermography Business, we recommend and sell the Meditherm med2000 IRIS 7.5 camera for both human and animal use. This camera is designed specifically for medical thermographic use.

Click to learn why this camera is best for medical thermography.

Thermography software shows a breast thermographic image

Data from a medical thermography camera, such as the Meditherm IRIS 7.5 camera, is color mapped before being sent to the EMI Interpretation Service. What is color mapping?

When a patient comes in for a thermographic scan, him or her starts by getting acclimated to the room temperature. The skin’s surface needs to adjust to the temperature in the room before thermographic images are taken. The patient is asked to disrobe and wait in the examination room for around 10 minutes before beginning the thermographic scan. The desired room temperature is around 70 degrees.

Once the patient is acclimated, the scanning process begins. The purpose it to measure the patient’s body temperature for abnormal heat patterns that indicate abnormal function in the body. No radiaiton is used, it merely scans for the heat the body is emitting.

In one click, the medical thermographic camera takes over 80K temperature readings. With digital technology, that thermal data creates a thermal map instantly on the computer screen. First, the thermographer uses the medical thermographic camera to take several snapshots of the patient looking for stability in the colors and patterns assuring the patient has acclimated. If the displayed color patterns are not stable, then the patient needs more time to acclimate.

The body is symmetrical left to right. When a heat pattern on the body is asymmetrical (the two sides don’t match), that may indicate abnormal function. The body becomes its own control. It is important to provide comparative images to the EMI interpretation service, for contra-lateral analysis. The contralateral scans need to be saved within the same temperature range.

The human body’s physiology generally will fall within an 8-degree centigrade temperature range. This is the range that is required by EMI Interpretation service. This camera is specifically designed for medical thermography. It is more refined than the gross temperature differences shown by industrial thermography cameras that detect heat loss from windows and doors.

The preferred thermal map for medical interpretation is a 16-color system. Every 1/2 degree of the 8 degree range, is assigned a color. At the cooler end of the temperature range, we have cooler looking colors (black, blues) and at the warmer end, we have yellows and reds, ending with white. In the image, there is an 8-degree difference between a black pixel on the screen and a white pixel.

It is the thermographer’s job to fine-tune the scans to display as many colors in the color range as possible. This makes it easier for the medical doctors at EMI to read the patterns, as well as the colors. They are better able to interpret any abnormal function and write about them in their interpretation.

The scan can be shown in various color maps. But the underlying temperature data is not altered. Choosing a different “look” doesn’t change the data. The thermologists use additional software to display the actual temperature readings and statistical data (differentials from left to right) If the differentials are beyond normal parameters the asymmetric thermal activity may indicate abnormal function in the area.

Learn more about our medical thermography camera and the EMI Interpretation Service.

Meditherm clinical thermography cameras are specifically designed to examine the body. These cameras are manufactured in an FDA licensed as a medical device manufacturing facility, subject to annual inspection.

What type of medical thermography training is available for the Meditherm cameras?

1. Thermography Technical Training – This is technical training about how to use a thermography camera. Everyone who has a Meditherm medical thermography camera must take this training before using the camera for medical purposes. This type of training is offered only by trainers certified by the American College of Clinical Thermography (ACCT). This 2-day course includes clinical application, image proficiency, medicolegal and HIPPA compliance, thermography practice standards, practice development, and ACCT resources. Get Started TIPPS is ACCT-certified to offer thermography technical training. We can travel to you and train your whole staff at once!
2. Thermography Business Training – How do you successfully run a profitable thermography business? Whether you will start a business from scratch, or add thermography to your roster of services, how you run your thermography business will dramatically impact your success. The only source of thermography business training for Meditherm cameras is Get Started TIPPS (Thermal Imaging Practices and Procedures). We offer a proven formula and includes in-person training, the TIPPS manual, worksheets, clinical forms and much more! Click for details about clinical thermography business training.

Providing thermography services is a significant responsibility to the patients, and to yourself! You need to minimize your exposure in this business venture by getting complete training.

Here is what Dori had to say about her TIPPS training: “Just starting in the thermography arena, we found TIPPS through Meditherm. Since we are in Alaska we chose to fly Pam to us for our training. Pam provided complete thermography training and a “soup to nuts” manual to guide us through every aspect of the medical thermography business. She made it fun and easy to learn every step from practical to legal. I highly recommend TIPPS to anyone buying or using the Meditherm thermography camera.”

Click to contact us and learn more.

Example of cold stressing on hand. Top: 1 minute after getting cold (20 degree water). Middle: 3 minutes after. Bottom: 6 minutes after.

Cold stressing is sometimes used in clinical thermography to measure the functioning of the sympathetic nervous system. It involves making an area of the body cold before running a thermographic scan. While cold stressing is not routine for breast exams, it is helpful for reflex sympathetic dystrophy (chronic pain, usually in a limb).

The protocols for Meditherm cameras do not require cold stressing routinely for breast exams. A physician or reading thermologist can specifically ask for a cold stress thermographic scan if needed.

Cancer needs a blood supply in order to grow, and these areas often show up as warmer on a thermographic scan. Thermographers who use the Meditherm thermographic camera usually use the EMI interpretation service to read and interpret the scans. EMI uses only trained physicians to interpret the scans and help detect problems such as cancer in their early stages.

When made cold, normal blood vessels in the skin are suppressed. Abnormal blood vessels do not contract as quickly or easily; therefore, potential problem area are easier to identify. The problem is that the cold stress stress is difficult to carry out. It has very strict protocols. Using it incorrectly can therefore result in false positive results.

If a thermographic interpretation is flagged as abnormal, it is usually best to follow up with a physician for more testing and possible treatment. Doing another scan using cold stressing to see if the abnormality goes away is not typical.

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) is chronic pain, typically in a limb. It should be diagnosed by a doctor to rule out other reasons for the pain. Theories as to what causes RSD include problems with the sympathetic nervous system (the natural processes in the body that take place unconsciously) and problems with the immune system (inflammation). Clinical thermography is a diagnostic test for RSD.

Meditherm thermography cameras are excellent tools for screening for heat differences in the body that may indicate abnormalities. Cold stressing is helpful for RSD, but it is not routine for breast scans.

Connie

Connie: Thank you for coming to work with us. We are very confident and ready for business with TIPPS medical thermography business training. We are definitely using the manual frequently and grateful we have that tool.

Dori

Dori: Just starting in the thermography arena, we found TIPPS through Meditherm. Since we are in Alaska we chose to fly Pam to us for our training. Pam provided complete thermography training and a “soup to nuts” manual  to guide us through every aspect of the medical thermography business. She made it fun and easy to learn every step from practical to legal. I highly recommend TIPPS to anyone buying or using the Meditherm thermography camera.

Shelley

Shelley: TIPPS, along with Pam’s individualized caring attention and support, is helping me build my successful medical thermography business.

Abby

Abby: I’m grateful for Pam Ryerse’s medical thermography business training and her TIPPS manual. It was so well written and simple to understand with tons of valuable information. I can’t tell you how much time and effort the TIPPS training and manual have saved me! Worth every penny!

Buy your thermography camera from TIPPS and we will give you thermography technical training at your location for you and your entire staff! Learn how to use your camera without traveling, and get one-on-one attention. Save time and money!

Help ensure your business’s success by taking Clinical Thermography Business Training.

Only MD's and DO's provide interpretations of thermographic scans at EMI

Here at Get Started TIPPS, everyone who buys a Meditherm Med2000 medical thermography camera from us also gets connected with the EMI (Electronic Medical Interpretation, Inc.) interpretation service. We provide thermographers with software so medical thermography scans are uploaded to EMI for interpretation. A medical doctor or doctor of osteopathy writes an interpretation report for each scan, and transmits it back to the thermographer’s office. The thermographer then gives the report to their patient and discusses the results.

EMI is the best choice for medical thermography interpretation because it is backed by qualified, board-certified physicians who are specially trained in the interpretation of medical thermographic images. Not all interpretation services meet these standards.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about the EMI interpretation service:

Q: What are the credentials of the interpreting physician?
A: All EMI  interpretations are performed by MD’s/DO’s board-certified by the American College of Clinical Thermology (ACCT). MD’s and DO’s have a scope of practice and are licensed to practice medicine — chiropractors are not.

Q: Does EMI have enough interpreting doctors, even when demand for interpretations is high?
A:  EMI has over 35 MD’s performing interpretation, so high volume is not a problem.

Q: How long does it take to get a set of scans interpreted?
A: Turn-around time is, on average, less than 24 hrs. STAT results available also.

Q: Can thermographers ask questions about a scan?
A: EMI provides a direct line for licensed practitioners to inquire about a patient report.

Q: How are EMI doctors held accountable for the qualify of their interpretations? What if we want a second opinion?
A: EMI provides peer-review and 2nd opinion options. Quality control and quality assurance programs monitor standards and protocols.

Q: What about comparative analysis? If a patient moves to another city, can EMI still access their past scans and compare them to more recent scans? (Monitoring change over time is very helpful in thermography.)
A: The EMI database is worldwide and patient files and images are kept on record and accessible.    There are Meditherm practitioners, clinics and hospitals world-wide with millions of patients on record and the database is growing daily. Patients may relocate and be assured of finding a Meditherm thermographer to provide continuing comparative analysis.

Contact us for more information about EMI.

Are all cameras the same? What about thermal drift?

Why can’t an industrial thermal camera be used for medical thermography to screen for disease and problems in the body? Are all thermography cameras the same?

Meditherm’s medical thermography cameras are specifically designed for medical thermography. One feature that sets Meditherm cameras apart from industrial cameras are how it compensates for “thermal drift.”

Thermal drift, or the “drift factor” of a thermal camera, should be less than 0.2 degrees centigrade. A drift factor higher than that leads to poor reproducibility.

Industrial thermography cameras have a “lens correction” built in because they use optical lenses to focus and zoom. You have seen optical lenses because ordinary cameras also use optical lenses. Focus and zoom allow the camera to look at objects from varying distances. Optical lenses will absorb about 17% of the emitted radiation, which needs to be corrected  by the software.

Medical thermography camera specifications include:

1. Emissivity detection close to 100%
2. No loss of accuracy or sensitivity due to use of optical lens (no attenuation)
3. Correct range of detection: 10 microns
4. Calibrated sensitivity and accuracy of temperature comparative analysis of 0.01 degree C
5. Correct field of view for medical region imaging
6. No loss of accuracy due to thermal drift

The Meditherm camera does not use an optical camera lens. Instead, it has a small germanium window that does not absorb measurable amounts of the emitted radiation. Therefore, the Meditherm camera detects close to 100% of the IR being emitted from the body for better accuracy. Industrial cameras all have a percentage of thermal drift, requiring “averaging” to compensate.

The Meditherm camera factory is FDA licensed as a medical device manufacturing facility, subject to annual inspections. No other thermographic camera company can say that.

We offer the state-of-the-art Meditherm camera, as well as technical training and medical thermography business training.

The DITI, or thermography, procedure is:

• Non-invasive
• No radiation
• Painless
• No contact
• FDA registered

Other terms that are synonymous with DITI, or very similar, are:

• thermography
• digital infrared imaging
• medical thermal imaging
• breast thermography
• clinical thermography
• medical thermography

The Meditherm IRIS 7.5 Thermography Camera comes with a Toshiba Laptop and Clinic Stand

When you buy the Meditherm IRIS 7.5 camera, you get a top-of-the-range Toshiba laptop. This laptop receives the thermographic images from the camera via a cable (included). It also includes thermography software.

Laptop includes:

• Toshiba Tecra Laptop (call us if you need precise specifications on the model that is currently offered)
• Pre-loaded software and practice materials
• Clinic stand
• Carrying case
• Toshiba operating manual
• Full 2-year warranty
• Free unlimited tech support and backup
• Internet-ready with WiFi or by network cable (includes network port)
• Microsoft Windows-based Operating System
• Online access to interpretation and reporting service
• Wide screen, full color
• Built-in sound, touchpad, USB ports
• Power cable and battery
• The included thermography software is user friendly and allows you to subscribe to the EMI interpretation service (the biggest network of interpretation medical doctors)