About Veterinary Infrared Digital Imaging

The infrared part of the light spectrum has, for a long time, been used to view 'heat'. Infrared cameras have been used for many years by military and other law enforcement agencies to detect heat sources, such as bodies, hidden inside other structures.

Infrared has widespread and fascinating applications across many areas of industry and recently has been introduced into cricket matches as 'hot spot' camera images showing if the ball has actually come into contact with the bat.

The technology has been used in medical and veterinary fields for about 30 years, with much of the early human research being done with the very early detection of breast cancer. Medical applications now are extremely varied and determining the depth of burns to reduce the amount of surgery needed and finding the actual outline of brain tumours are just two.

From ancient times, heat has been known to be an indicator of imbalance and dysfunction in the body and the use of temperature gradients to diagnose disease and/or dysfunction is not new. Ancient physicians applied mud over the body and deduced areas of inflammation or reduced circulation from the way the mud dried.

In 400BC Hippocrates wrote “in whatever part of the body excess heat or cold is felt, a disease is there to be discovered”.

Temperature is the second most frequently measured physical quantity, time being first. Combining infrared technology with the established understanding of the body's normal heat distribution is the next step to introducing a very accurate and reliable imaging aid.

Infrared imaging can accurately pinpoint the site of a problem in the body. Used correctly it can contribute objective, clinically correct information to assist in the diagnostic process. The technology is unique as it shows activity and changes in soft tissue – muscles, nerves and organs. It reflects changes in body processes and functions (physiology) whereas the commonly used imaging technology such as x-ray, ultrasound, MRI, CT scan, look at structure (anatomy).

Veterinary Infrared Digital Imaging is a quick, safe, cost-effective, non-invasive diagnostic aid which looks at the body's thermal symmetry or asymmetry.