Active 3D scanning based 3D thermography system and medical applications

Infrared (IR) thermography determines the surface temperature of an object or human body using IR camera. It is an imaging technology which is contactless and completely non-invasive. These properties make infrared thermography a useful method of analysis that is used in various industrial applications to detect, monitor and predict irregularities in many fields from engineering to medical and biological observations. This paper presents 3D thermography based on the combination of active visual 3D imaging technology and passive thermal imaging technology. We describe development of a 3D thermography system integrating thermal imaging with 3D geometrical data from active 3D scanner. We also outline the potential benefits of this system in medical applications. In particular, we emphasize the benefits of using this system for detection of breast cancer.