Infrared scanning for biomedical applications.

The great interest in using infrared imaging for biological and medical applications is motivated by the harmless interaction of small doses of infrared radiation with biological objects and by the technical ability of infrared digital cameras to generate, produce, store, and display the resultant images in situ. In this study, we review the state of the art of infrared (IR) imaging in comparison with well established medical imaging techniques such as ultrasound and x-rays. We demonstrate for the first time that by using IR transmitted light, one can observe bones, tendons, cartilages, and other tissues. The IR long-focus scanning microscope was built to allow two modes of scanning. The first mode is when illumination of a biological object is performed at the same angle of view with different IR wavelengths lambda. The second mode is when, for fixed wavelength lambda, scanning of the source of light around the object is performed. We discuss the special image processing methods and potential applications of the new scanner for medical diagnostics. This novel, low-cost IR imaging system (hardware and software) allows one to scan biological objects such as human arms, legs, palms, and fingers to differentiate tissues, tendons, muscles, ligaments, blood vessels, bones, and cartilages. Some of these objects cannot be detected by conventional x-rays.