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WO2000057164A1 - Detection precoce d'inflammations et d'infections au moyen d'une thermographie infrarouge - Google Patents

Detection precoce d'inflammations et d'infections au moyen d'une thermographie infrarouge Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2000057164A1
WO2000057164A1 PCT/US2000/007593 US0007593W WO0057164A1 WO 2000057164 A1 WO2000057164 A1 WO 2000057164A1 US 0007593 W US0007593 W US 0007593W WO 0057164 A1 WO0057164 A1 WO 0057164A1
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Prior art keywords
animal
anatomical structure
camera
temperature
image
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PCT/US2000/007593
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English (en)
Inventor
George Shaw
Harold P. Glaser
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EMerge Interactive Inc
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EMerge Interactive Inc
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Priority to AU40202/00A priority Critical patent/AU4020200A/en
Publication of WO2000057164A1 publication Critical patent/WO2000057164A1/fr
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/01—Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue
    • A61B5/015—By temperature mapping of body part
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/45—For evaluating or diagnosing the musculoskeletal system or teeth
    • A61B5/4528—Joints

Definitions

  • the invention relates to the use of infrared thermography imaging in animals for the early detection of inflammation.
  • the invention further relates to the use of infrared o thermography in animals for the early detection of infection.
  • Inflammation plays a fundamental role in host defenses and the progression of immune-mediated diseases.
  • the inflammatory response is initiated in response to tissue 5 injury (e.g., trauma, ischemia, and foreign particles) and infection by a complex cascade of events, including chemical mediators (e.g., cytokines and prostaglandins) and inflammatory cells (e.g., leukocytes).
  • tissue 5 injury e.g., trauma, ischemia, and foreign particles
  • inflammatory cells e.g., leukocytes
  • the inflammatory response is characterized by increased blood flow, increased capillary permeability, and the influx of phagocytic cells. These events result in swelling, redness, warmth (altered heat patterns), and pus formation at the site of 0 in i ur y-
  • a delicate well-balanced interplay between the humoral and cellular immune elements in the inflammatory response enables the elimination of harmful agents and the initiation of the repair of damaged tissue.
  • the inflammatory response may result in considerable damage to normal tissue 5 and may be more harmful than the original insult that initiated the reaction.
  • clinical intervention is needed to prevent tissue damage and organ dysfunction.
  • Diseases such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, Crohn's disease, psoriasis, or inflammatory bowel disease, are characterized by chronic inflammation.
  • Q Early detection and localization of inflammation is a critical step in the implementation of appropriate treatment of a subject. However, non-invasive techniques for the detection of inflammation remain elusive.
  • CT computed tomography
  • MRI magnetic resonance imaging
  • ultrasonography scintigraphic imaging
  • scintigraphic imaging is a non-invasive method of scanning the entire body using radiopharmaceuticals (e.g., radiolabeled receptor-specific small proteins and peptides), which specifically bind to receptors abundant in the area of inflammation.
  • radiopharmaceuticals e.g., radiolabeled receptor-specific small proteins and peptides
  • radiopharmaceuticals for imaging inflammation is limiting because it requires: (i) that the radiopharmaceutical specifically interacts with its receptor; (ii) that the radiopharmaceutical has a high affinity for its receptor; (iii) that the radiopharmaceutical specifically localizes to the site of inflammation, which is dependent on the receptor expression in the inflammatory response; (iv) that the receptor is accessible to the radiopharmaceutical; (v) that the radiopharmaceutical has high and early uptake; (vi) that the radiopharmaceutical is rapidly cleared; (vii) that the radiopharmaceutical does not accumulate in non-targeted tissues and result in high background; and (viii) that the radiopharmaceutical is not toxic (van der Laken, C.J., et al., 1998, European Journal of Nuclear Medicine 25: 535-546).
  • Viral and bacterial infections typically result in the development of local or systemic inflammation and catabolism of tissues at the site of infection.
  • the inflammatory response to an infection whether acute or chronic is often tissue or organ centered and as such is characterized by increased blood flow and white blood cell activity (/. e. , phagocytic cell activity) in affected areas.
  • white blood cell activity /. e. , phagocytic cell activity
  • the appearance of localized swelling, discoloration and tissue debris are often apparent and significant tissue damage can result.
  • the immunological assays are too costly for individual or sporadic infections and are generally not performed until clinical symptoms have manifested. Therefore, a need exists for a simple, rapid, non-invasive and inexpensive diagnostic technique for the early detection of viral and microbial infections.
  • Mastitis is an inflammation of the mammary gland normally caused by a bacterial or mycotic pathogen.
  • the disease is of great concern in the dairy industry, where significant economic loss can occur due to the requirement to not use the affected milk for human consumption and due to the shortened milking life of the affected animals.
  • the etiology of 0 the disease is well described in the literature pertaining to this topic, e.g., see, Siegmund et al., 1973, The Merk Veterinary Manual 4 th ed., Merck and Comp. Rathway, N.J.; Blood et al., 1983, Veterinary Medicine 6 th ed., Bailliere Tindall , London.
  • milk components have been suggested as good indicators of mastitis, including such elements as sodium, chloride, potassium, lactose and bovine serum albumin (BSA) (Fernando et al., 1985, J. Dairy Sci. 68: 449-456), milk temperature (Datta et al., 1984, Transactions of the American Society of Agriculture Engineers 27:1204-1210; Rossing et al., 1984, Proceedings of the National Conference American Society of Agricultural Engineers, Chicago, 606-613; Jarman et al., 1986, J. Dairy Sci.
  • BSA bovine serum albumin
  • Mastitis is currently detected predominantly by the use of inflammatory tests such as the "Wisconsin Mastitis Test" or CMT, which as described by Siegmund (1973, page 817) is a rather time consuming laboratory type diagnostic method which will indicate the relative leukocyte or somatic cell count in the milk of cows suspected of having mastitis.
  • CMT Cosmetic Mastitis Test
  • these types of tests are not particularly effective in detecting the earliest onset or subclinical cases of mastitis.
  • the need to capture the animal and collect milk samples complicates the use of this method. These factors are important in that the earlier the mastitis condition can be detected, the earlier treatments can begin and the higher the likelihood of successful treatment in a shorter period of time.
  • Infrared thermography is a non-invasive technique that enables temperatures to be monitored and recorded. Unsuccessful attempts have been made to use infrared thermography in human medicine as a diagnostic aid for a variety of conditions, such as tumor detection and cardiovascular disease (Clark, J.A. and Cena, K., 1972, J. of Mammalogy 54:1003-1007). Infrared thermography has been attempted in veterinary medicine to detect and diagnosis a variety of conditions, such as podotrochlosis in horses (Turner,T.A., 1983, Am. J. Vet. Res. 44:535-539) and clinical damage in an udder (Tsykalo, AL. et al., 1982, USSR (7):49-50) .
  • the early infrared thermography detection systems were bulky, complex, and required frequent recharging with liquid nitrogen. Furthermore, the spatial resolution was poor, the exposure time was long, and the minimum resolvable temperature difference was large for the infrared thermography systems. Reliable detection of inflammation was not achieved. In addition, many physicians and veterinarians were not adequately trained to interpret the data from the infrared imagery and there was a high false positive rate. Thus, the infrared thermography was branded as a failure and has not been explored much by the medical or veterinary communities for the past three decades.
  • the present invention provides a method using infrared thermography for the detection of inflammation in animals.
  • the invention also provides a method using infrared thermography for the diagnosis of diseases or disorders that induce inflammation.
  • the invention further provides a method using infrared thermography for the detection of an infection in an animal.
  • the present invention provides for the detection of an infection in an animal by measuring temperature changes resulting from the animal's immune response to the infection using infrared thermography.
  • the catabolism of tissue and the inflammatory response induced in response to an infection in an animal both generate temperature changes which can be measured using infrared thermography.
  • the present invention is based, in part, on the surprising discovery that temperature differences less than 1 °C are clinically significant. This discovery was made possible by employing an induction model of mastitis that allowed the Applicants to evaluate inflammation or infection resulting from known etiologies and to compare the infrared characteristics obtained using an infrared camera with outcomes obtained with other diagnostic procedures. Accordingly, Applicants' discovered that temperature differences less than 1 °C indicate early or subclinical inflammation or infection, and that temperature differences greater than 1 °C indicate later stages of development of inflammation or clinical infection.
  • FIGURES Figure 1 is a sketch illustrating the main components of the illustrative apparatus of the present invention.
  • Figure 2 is a side view depicting an illustrative embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 3 is a block diagram depicting the electronics found in the imaging system of the present invention.
  • Figure 4 is a block diagram depicting the electronics found in the flip-out display.
  • Figure 5 is an illustration of the front of the display panel.
  • Figure 6 depicts the Animal Sciences Tracker Camera.
  • Figure 7 illustrates the minimal components of the Animal Sciences Tracker Camera.
  • Figure 8 illustrates the preferred components of the Animal Sciences Tracker
  • BSA Bovine Serum Albumin
  • Figure 15 is a graph of NAGase and udder infrared thermography values for the animal of Figure 14. Data for both the left and right distal quarters of the udder are shown.
  • Figure 16 is a graph of BSA and udder infrared thermography values for the animal of Figures 14 and 15. Data for both the left and right distal quarters of the udder are shown.
  • the present invention relates to the use of infrared thermography for the early or subclinical detection of inflammation in animals.
  • the present invention also relates to the use of infrared thermography in the diagnosis of diseases or disorders that induce inflammation and/or induce the catabolism of tissues.
  • the present invention provides methods for detecting inflammation of an anatomical structure of an animal, preferably a mammal and more preferably a non-human animal.
  • the present invention further provides methods for detecting infection of an anatomical structure of an animal, preferably a mammal.
  • the present invention provides methods for detecting infection of an anatomical structure in a non-human animal.
  • the present invention provides methods for detecting infection in humans.
  • the term "anatomical structure” used herein refers to any definable area of an animal, preferably a tissue or a joint of an animal, that radiates infrared energy and which may or may not be symmetrical.
  • the invention provides methods for detecting inflammation of all anatomical structures of animals, except the joints.
  • the present invention also provides methods for detecting inflammation of the joints of all mammals, except humans.
  • the invention also provides methods for detecting inflammation or infection in all non-human mammals, including but not limited to pigs, horses, cows (e.g., Bos taurus and Bos indicus), dogs and cats.
  • the present invention also provides methods for detecting local or systemic infection in animals, preferably a mammals. Further, the present invention also provides methods for detecting acute or chronic infection in animals, preferably a mammals.
  • the invention provides a method for detecting inflammation of an anatomical structure of an animal, comprising the following steps: (i) obtaining an infrared thermographic image of an anatomical structure of an animal; (ii) determining the mean temperature of the infrared thermographic image; and (iii) detecting early or subclinical inflammation of an anatomical structure of an animal if there is a change in the mean temperature of less than 1 °C of an anatomical structure relative to the mean temperature of the same anatomical structure of the same animal or a population of animals of the same species obtained from infrared thermographic images taken when there was no inflammation of the anatomical structure.
  • the term "subclinical” as used herein refers to inflammation of an anatomical structure of an animal that has not manifested itself clinically.
  • the invention also provides a method for detecting inflammation of an anatomical structure of an animal, comprising the following steps: (i) obtaining an infrared thermographic image of an anatomical structure of an animal; (ii) determining the mean temperature of the infrared thermographic image; and (iii) detecting late stage development of inflammation of an anatomical structure of an animal if there is a change in the mean temperature of greater than 1 °C of an anatomical structure relative to the mean temperature of the same anatomical structure of the same animal or a population of animals of the same species obtained from infrared thermographic images taken when there was no inflammation of the anatomical structure.
  • the invention also provides a method for detecting inflammation of an anatomical structure of an animal, comprising the following steps: (i) obtaining an infrared thermographic image of an anatomical structure of an animal after an event; (ii) comparing the infrared thermographic image obtained to infrared thermographic images of the same anatomical structure of the same animal or a population of animals of the same species prior to the event; and (iii) detecting inflammation of the anatomical structure of the animal if there is a relative difference in the temperature of the anatomical structure of the animal.
  • the term "event” as used herein refers to any activity that may result in inflammation of an anatomical structure of an animal, including surgery.
  • the present invention provides a method for detecting inflammation of an anatomical structure of an animal, comprising the following steps: (i) obtaining an infrared thermographic image of an anatomical structure of an animal; (ii) obtaining an infrared thermographic image of the symmetrical anatomical structure of the animal; (iii) determining the total temperature of the infrared thermographic images for the symmetrical anatomical structures; and (iv) detecting inflammation of an anatomical structure if the total temperature of the symmetrical anatomical structures differ by greater than a predetermined amount.
  • symmetrical anatomical structure refers to an anatomical structure that has symmetry to another anatomical structure of an animal (e.g., one leg compared to another leg of an animal).
  • the invention also provides a method for detecting inflammation of an anatomical structure of an animal, comprising the following steps: (i) obtaining an infrared thermographic image of the anatomical structure of an animal; (ii) obtaining an infrared thermographic image of the symmetrical anatomical structure of the animal; (iii) comparing the infrared thermographic image obtained to an infrared thermographic image of the symmetrical anatomical structure of the animal; and (iv) detecting inflammation of the anatomical structure of the animal if there is a relative difference in the temperature between the anatomical structure and the symmetrical anatomical structure of the animal.
  • the present invention also provides a method for detecting when a clinical treatment for treating inflammation of an anatomical structure of an animal was successful, comprising the following steps: (i) obtaining an infrared thermographic image of the anatomical structure of the animal; (ii) determining the mean temperature of the infrared thermographic image; and (iii) detecting the successful treatment of inflammation of the anatomical structure by comparing the mean temperature of the anatomical structure with the mean temperature of the same anatomical structure obtained from the same animal or a population of animals of the species when healthy.
  • the present invention also provides a method for detecting an infection in animal comprising the following steps: (i) obtaining an infrared thermographic image of the anatomical structure or a portion thereof of the animal; and (ii) detecting early or subclinical infection of said animal if there is a change in the mean temperature of less than 1 °C relative to the mean temperature of the same anatomical structure in the same animal pre- infection or relative to the mean temperature of the same anatomical structure in a population of uninfected animals of the same species, background and class.
  • the anatomical structure of an animal that is imaged to detect infection is the eye or the nose (i.e., a sinus).
  • the present invention also provides a method for detecting an infection in an animal comprising the following steps: (i) obtaining an infrared thermographic image of the anatomical structure or a portion thereof of the animal; and (ii) detecting clinical infection of said animal if there is a change in the mean temperature of greater than 1 °C relative to the mean temperature of the same anatomical structure in the same animal pre-infection or relative to the mean temperature of the same anatomical structure in a population of uninfected animals of the same species, background and class.
  • the present invention also provides a method for detecting when a clinical treatment for treating an infection in an animal was successful, comprising the following steps: (i) obtaining an infrared thermographic image of the anatomical structure of the animal; and (ii) detecting the successful treatment of the infection by comparing the mean temperature of the anatomical structure of the animal to the mean temperature of the same anatomical structure of the same animal preinfection or a population of uninfected animals of the same species.
  • the present invention provides a method for detecting a local infection of an anatomical structure of an animal, comprising the following steps: (i) obtaining an infrared thermographic image of an anatomical structure of an animal; (ii) obtaining an infrared thermographic image of the symmetrical anatomical structure of the animal; (iii) determining the total temperature of the infrared thermographic images for the symmetrical anatomical structures; and (iv) detecting a local infection of an anatomical structure if the total temperature of the symmetrical anatomical structures differ by greater than a predetermined amount.
  • the invention also provides a method for detecting a local infection of an anatomical structure of an animal, comprising the following steps: (i) obtaining an infrared thermographic image of the anatomical structure of an animal; (ii) obtaining an infrared thermographic image of the symmetrical anatomical structure of the animal; (iii) comparing the infrared thermographic image obtained to an infrared thermographic image of the symmetrical anatomical structure of the animal; and (iv) detecting infection of the anatomical structure of the animal if there is a relative difference in the temperature between the anatomical structure and the symmetrical anatomical structure of the animal.
  • the present invention is based upon the surprising discovery that temperature differences less than 1 °C are clinically significant.
  • This discovery was made possible, in part, by employing an induction model of mastitis, which displays a known etiology, such that infrared thermal expression could be compared to known outcomes.
  • the use of the induction model has many advantages including: (i) the inflammatory agent is known both in quantitative and qualitative terms; (ii) the exact time of the onset of inflammation is known; and (iii) the exact stage or progression of the inflammation is known. Furthermore, due to the unique anatomy of the udder of a cow, the progression of an infected quarter can be compared to a non-infected quarter.
  • the udder of a dairy cow is unique in that all four quarters are essentially independent in terms of their vascular supply (Sisson, S., The Anatomy of the Domestic Animal. W.B. Saunders Comp., Philadelphia. 4 th ed. Revised by J.D. Grossman, page 618), such that inflammation induced in one quarter of the udder through the use of a mastitis induction model does not affect any other quarter of the udder. Hence, the animal can act as its own control.
  • one quarter of the udder of a test population of lactating dairy cattle was infected with Escherichia coli (E. coli) endotoxin and the time course of the resulting inflammation was followed for several days using a variety of analytical tools, including infrared thermography.
  • E. coli Escherichia coli
  • milk samples were obtained from the left (induced) and right (non-induced) distal (hind) quarters of the udder and analyzed for objective indicators of inflammation by conventional analytical procedures.
  • infrared thermographic images of the cows were obtained, so that the infrared thermal expression of the animal could be monitored over the course of the induced inflammation.
  • mastitis in a mammal is detected by: (i) obtaining an infrared thermographic image of a mammary gland of said mammal, said infrared thermographic image providing temperature information about said mammary gland; and, (ii) identifying said mammal as having a high probability of having mastitis if a measure of said temperature information is greater than a predetermined value by at least a predetermined amount.
  • mastitis in a mammal having an udder is detected by: (i) obtaining an infrared thermographic image of one quarter of the udder of said mammal at time 0, said infrared thermographic image providing temperature information about said udder quarter of said mammal; (ii) obtaining an infrared thermographic image of the same quarter of the udder of said mammal at a later time, said infrared thermographic image providing temperature information about said udder of said mammal; (iii) determining a total temperature for a first image, said first image corresponding to said quarter of the udder of said mammal at time 0; (iv) determining a total temperature for a second image, said second image corresponding to said quarter of the udder of said mammal at a later time; and (v) identifying said mammal as having a high probability of having mastitis if the total temperature for said first image differs from the total temperature for said second image by greater than a pre
  • mastitis in a mammal having an udder is detected by: (i) obtaining images of the two frontal quarters or two rear quarters of the udder of said mammal; (ii) determining the total temperature of a first image, said first image corresponding to one frontal quarter or one rear quarter of the udder of said mammal; (iii) determining the total temperature of a second image, said second image corresponding to the other frontal quarter or the other rear quarter of the udder of said mammal; and (iv) identifying said mammal as having a high probability of having mastitis if the total temperature of said first image differs from the total temperature of said second image by greater than a predetermined amount.
  • the infrared thermographic camera used to detect inflammation has a preferred spectral band of 7.5 to 14 ⁇ m, which provides an image that is not corrupted by reflected sunlight. It should be capable of resolving temperature differences of less than 1.0 °C.
  • the infrared thermographic camera is encased in weather resistant housing, which protects the camera from all the environmental conditions that may be encountered.
  • the camera housing may include, but is not limited to, thermal insulation and an active thermal control feature.
  • the infrared camera used to detect inflammation of an anatomical structure of an animal is the portable DTIS camera from eMerge Vision Systems (Sebastian, FL).
  • the infrared camera used to detect inflammation of an anatomical structure of an animal is the nonportable, waterproof Animal Sciences Tracker Camera from eMerge Vision Systems (Sebastian, FL).
  • the DTIS camera is designed to operate and function optimally within the range of temperatures normally anticipated in animals displaying inflammation (25 °C to 35 °C) without recalibration. This camera is also designed to be held and operated with one hand, which is a significant advantage when obtaining infrared thermographic images of an anatomical structure of animals.
  • the DTIS camera is encased in a hardened, water resistant case, which is more desirable and compatible for the capture of data in animal environments.
  • This camera is lighter ( 4.4 pounds) compared to other infrared thermographic systems, which capture in the 7.5 to 14 ⁇ m range, and requires fewer and less complicated batteries.
  • the DTIS camera has an "on board” or attached slide out display for accurate viewing and capture of the image instead of a separate monitor requirement. Furthermore, the DTIS camera is capable of compact data storage in the instrument and/or linkage to peripheral monitors.
  • the imaging apparatus of the DTIS camera comprises a portable video camera (10) and a display unit (20) which is pivotably mounted on one side of the camera.
  • the pivotable mounting allows for rotation of the display unit about a vertical axis a-a from an initial position in which the display is essentially flat adjacent to the housing of the camera and a second position in which it extends outwardly from the camcorder at approximately a 90° angle.
  • the display unit is rotatable about a second axis b-b perpendicular to the first axis so that it can be tilted for the convenience of the viewer. This tilting can be adjusted to any position through an arc of approximately 90 degrees.
  • the DTIS camera includes a detector 30, lens system 40 and electronic circuitry 50.
  • the lens system forms on the surface of detector 30 an image of incident electromagnetic radiation.
  • the detector converts this optical image into an electric signal and provides the electric signal to electronic circuitry 50.
  • the electronic circuitry converts this signal into a standard video signal in compliance with well-known formats.
  • the image that is formed on the detector may be a visible image, an infrared image.
  • the particular detector and lenses that are used are appropriate for the wavelengths of the radiation that forms the image.
  • the detector is a charged coupled device.
  • the electronic circuitry for converting the electric signal to a video signal comprises a dual buffer memory 51, a microprocessor 52, a programmable read only memory (PROM) 53, a field programmable gate array (FPGA) 54, a digital to analog converter (RAMDAC) 55, a display encoder and driver 56, an external video encoder 57 and a CompactFlash storage card 58 (SanDisk, Sunnyvale, CA).
  • PROM programmable read only memory
  • FPGA field programmable gate array
  • RAMDAC digital to analog converter
  • the contents of the PROM are used to configure the FPGA. All signals from detector 30 are provided to the FPGA and these signals are converted to video signals which are output in standard formats through drivers 46 and 47.
  • the electronic circuitry in the display comprises video processing electronics 110, display electronics 120 and a flash card 130.
  • the processing electronics include a micro-controller, buffer memory, video output converter and display driver.
  • the video signals from the camera are received by video processing electronics 110 and are converted to signals which are applied to driver circuits 130 in order to drive the display.
  • Control signals are also received at the video processing electronics 110 and are used to select the type of display.
  • the video signals optionally can be stored in flash card 120.
  • a screen 150 provides an annotation line, a cross hair at the center of the display and a menu located at the bottom of the display.
  • the flip out display annotation line is located at the top of the display. This line is used to indicate customer identification, and current image number.
  • the layout of the annotation line is as follows:
  • Menu options are used to set/select user-definable parameters as well as to control saving the image.
  • buttons located at the bottom of the display.
  • the buttons are defined as follows : M - Display menu select (toggle), also used to select/exit menus
  • This menu is displayed whenever the menu button on the flip-out display is pushed. This menu gives the user access to the basic function of the camera. This menu is actually two parts with the second part being displayed when the MORE option is selected. The following is a description of the functions selected using this menu:
  • This menu is displayed whenever the MORE option from menu 1 is selected. This menu is used to control all display features of the flip-out display. Those features are:
  • TIME MM/DD/YY HH:MM:SS This menu is displayed whenever the TIME option is selected from MENU 2. This submenu allows the user to set the current time. This time is used to time stamp the images saved on the PCMCIA memory card.
  • This menu is displayed whenever the FILE option is selected from MENU 2. This submenu allows the user to set the display annotation and to handle images on the PCMCIA memory card.
  • This menu is displayed whenever the TITLE option is selected from sub-menu FILE. This option is used to modify the annotation line at the top of the display.
  • This menu is displayed whenever the RETRIEVE option is selected from sub-menu FILE. This option is used to display images stored on the PCMCIA memory card.
  • the Animal Sciences Tracker Camera depicted in Figure 6 is designed to be installed in the animal's environment.
  • the design of the Animal Sciences Tracker Camera enables images of an animal or animals to be obtained as they pass through the field of view of the camera.
  • the camera is also designed to operate and function optimally within the range of temperatures normally anticipated in animals displaying inflammation (25°- 45° C) without recalibration.
  • the lens focal length of the Animal Sciences Tracker Camera is optimal for use in closer ranges with animals (1 to 20 feet), whereas most infrared cameras require specialty and expensive lenses in order to accomplish the same thing.
  • the Animal Sciences Tracker Camera is encased in a hardened, waterproof case, which is more desirable and compatible for the capture of data in animal environments.
  • the preferred wavelength of the Animal Sciences Tracker Camera is 7.5 to 14 ⁇ m. However, the wavelength of the Animal Sciences Tracker Camera can be 3 to 5 ⁇ m.
  • the Animal Sciences Tracker Camera is capable of compact data storage in the instrument and/or linkage to peripheral systems.
  • the Animal Sciences Tracker Camera has an image resolution of 320 x 240 in grey scale steps.
  • the minimal components of the Animal Sciences Tracker Camera include a camera unit, a junction box, a control panel, a weather station, a weather station interface box, a marker system, a computer, and a universal power supply ("UPS"; Figure 7).
  • the Animal Sciences Tracker Camera comprises the minimal components in Figure 7.
  • the Animal Sciences Tracker Camera comprises the components following components ( Figure 8): a camera unit, a junction box, a control panel, a weather station, a weather station interface box, a computer system, a visible radiometer, interconnecting cables, a marking system, a radio frequency (“RF") identification (“ID”) antenna, RF ID interface box, an infrared (“IR”) VCR, an IR insertion generator, an IR monitor, a visible VCR, a visible insertion generator, and a visible monitor.
  • RF radio frequency
  • ID radio frequency
  • IR infrared
  • the camera unit (3.1 of Figures 7 and 8) of the Animal Sciences Tracker Camera comprises a housing unit and an environmental conditioning unit.
  • the housing unit provides a clean environmentally controlled and sealed environment for mounting the components of the camera unit.
  • the environmental conditioning unit is capable of maintaining the internal temperature of the camera unit at a constant temperature for any external ambient temperature between -40° C and 20° C.
  • the control panel (3.3 of Figures 7 and 8) of the Animal Sciences Tracker Camera provides communications between the computer and camera unit.
  • the communications include outputs such as shutter temperature, window temperature, camera unit air temperature, ambient air temperature, and visible camera gain, and inputs such as a control signal for the environmental conditioning unit, a control signal for visible camera zoom and focus, and infrared camera gain.
  • the junction box (3.2 of Figures 7 and 8) of the Animal Sciences Tracker Camera provides a method for routing signals and power between the various other hardware elements. Power for all units except the computer is routed through the junction box.
  • the junction box comprises two external switches. One of these switches interrupts power to all units except the computer, VCR and insertion generator. The second switch controls power for the camera.
  • the weather station (3.5 of Figures 7 and 8) of the Animal Sciences Tracker Camera comprises an arm on which the following sensors are mounted: an air temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a wind speed sensor, a wind direction sensor, a rain rate sensor, a solar radiometer, and an atmospheric pressure sensor.
  • the weather station interference box provides signal conditioning for the sensors of the weather station.
  • the marker system (3.7 of Figures 7 and 8) of the Animal Sciences Tracker Camera accepts four electrical inputs: color 1, color 2, water and air.
  • the marker system comprises a paint tank tray assembly, marking head assembly, window washer spray unit, and four solenoids.
  • the paint tray assembly holds three tanks, one for each of two colors of paint and one for water for the window spray.
  • the tanks have sensors that indicate when the liquid level in the tank is low.
  • the solenoids activate the spraying of the colors and the water. Input from one of the four electrical inputs results in the opening of the appropriate spray value.
  • the computer system (3.9 of Figures 7 and 8) performs the following functions: controls all operations of the system, collects data for an animal database, and transmits database information and system status information via a modem from a remote location when commanded to do so.
  • the operating commands for the computer system are derived from the control panel.
  • the computer system of the Animal Sciences Tracker Camera comprises a specially designed video interface box (3.9.1 of Figure 8). This box accepts four video inputs which are terminated in 75 ohms and provides a buffered output for each input. The output from this box is supplied to the frame grabber and to external recording/monitoring equipment.
  • the Animal Sciences Tracker Camera comprises the minimal components in Figure 7 and a visible radiometer (3.4 of Figure 8) that collects data needed to estimate solar heating.
  • the visible radiometer is positioned so as to measure the visible illumination of the animals where they are viewed by the camera.
  • the Animal Sciences Tracker Camera comprises the minimal components in Figure 7 and an RF ID antenna and RF ID interface box (3.8 of Figure 8).
  • the RF ID antenna is capable of reading animal ID tags for eartags on animals and is positioned so that the eartag of an animal near the camera are read.
  • each animal or animals suspected of presenting inflammation in a population are scanned from about 1-3 meters away.
  • the preferred range is 175 cm.
  • Infrared thermographic images of all non-human animals are collected preferentially from the distal (hind) view showing a clear display of the back two quarters.
  • other images such as the ventral or lateral view would also have utility.
  • Environmental factors such as motion, extraneous radiant energy, and ambient temperature must be controlled when using infrared thermography to detect inflammation. Motion, for example, can be controlled by immobilizing the animal (e.g., a cow can be tied with a neck chain).
  • the animals should be at rest when the infrared images are obtained and should not be experiencing the thermal effects resulting from the digestion of food when the infrared images are obtained.
  • Infrared thermographic images should be obtained under cover and shielded from the sun.
  • the ambient temperature of the environment should be in the range of 20 °C, and most preferably the ambient temperature of the environment should be less than 30 °C.
  • Artifacts such as debris on the surface of the animal, scar tissue, irregular patterns of hair length, liniment and wraps should be eliminated to avoid interference with the infrared thermographic image(s).
  • the animal also should be acclimated to the site of the examination for at least ten minutes prior to the examination.
  • the infrared images should be obtained at the same time of day such that circadian and diurnal rhythm is taken into account.
  • infrared thermographic image is meant to include a scan output in the form of either or both a visual image and corresponding thermal or temperature data.
  • the output from infrared cameras used for infrared thermography typically provides an image comprising a plurality of pixel data points, each pixel providing a temperature data point that can be further processed by computer software to generate, for example, mean temperature for the image, or for a discrete area of the image, by averaging the data points over the number of pixels.
  • an infrared thermographic image comprising a plurality of pixels, provides a large number of temperature data points. Therefore, before comparing the temperature information to a predetermined value, determining a rate of temperature change, or determining a difference in total temperature, it is useful to obtain some measure that is representative of the entirety of the temperature information provided by an infrared thermographic image or a part thereof. Selected measures for the temperature information derived from each infrared thermographic image for the subject animal are determined by statistical techniques known in the art. Preferred measures include measures of central tendency, measures of dispersion, and measures of total temperature.
  • measure of central tendency is a statistical measure of a point near the center of a group of data points; without limitation, the term includes the mean, median, and mode.
  • measure of dispersion as used herein is meant to include statistical measures of spread from the measure of central tendency for the group, and include, without limitation, variance, standard deviation and coefficient of variation. Definitions of these statistical terms may be found in standard statistics texts, such as Steel and Torrie (1960) R.G.D. Steel and J.H. Torrie, McGraw Hill Company, Inc., NY, which definitions are incorporated herein by reference.
  • An uncalibrated, digitized thermographic image may consist of, for example, 135 X 256 pixels.
  • the relative radiant surface temperature represented by each pixel of the uncalibrated image may be represented by assigning each pixel a numerical value in the range from, for instance, 0 to 255.
  • the pixel values are mapped to actual Celsius temperature by relating them to the maximum and minimum temperature settings of the infrared camera through the following formula:
  • pseudo colours can be generated by assigning a specific colour to all pixels with temperature values within a certain range.
  • thermographic image may be processed.
  • only data for a part of the image corresponding to the area of interest of the animal is analyzed.
  • Known computer analysis procedures such as planometry, can be used to restrict the image analysis to the selected area of interest of the animal (e.g., a fixed "box" area can be applied around the eyes for a group of animals of interest).
  • the image area and the selected image temperature statistics are calculated.
  • Selected statistical measures of the temperature information (each pixel in the infrared thermographic image providing a temperature data point), such as the mean, median, mode, standard deviation, variance, and coefficient of variation can be determined by well-known statistical techniques such as those described by Steel and Torrie (1980).
  • thermographic images Suitable software for analyzing the thermographic images includes, but is limited to, ThermogramTM image software (Inframetrics, Inc,. North Billercia, MA), ViewscanTM Software (Viewscan Ltd., Concord, ON.), and customized software specific to the application for which the camera is being used. Mathematical models using such analytical approaches as neural nets can also utilized to analyze the thermographic image.
  • temperature differences between symmetrical anatomical structures are compared to detect inflammation.
  • the lack of symmetry between affected and non-affected quarters of an cow's udder can be used to detect mastitis.
  • the area or volume information is combined with the infrared thermographic temperature to better discern the lack of symmetry between the affected and the non-affected anatomical structure.
  • the area or volume represented by selected portions of the infrared thermographic images can be determined by known techniques.
  • inflammation of an anatomical structure of an animal is detected if a measure of temperature information for an infrared thermographic image of an anatomical structure of the animal differs by at least a predetermined amount or a statistically significant amount from a predetermined value.
  • infection in an animal can is detected if a measure of temperature information of an anatomical structure differs by at least a predetermined amount or a statistically significant amount from a predetermined value.
  • the predetermined value may represent published conventional temperature data representing animals of the same species as the subject animal, which can be adjusted to reflect infrared thermographic temperature values.
  • the predetermined value may be an arbitrary value, the value having been determined through trial and error to be useful for detecting inflammation or infection of an anatomical structure of an animal.
  • the predetermined value represents an equivalent measure of temperature information for infrared thermographic images of the particular anatomical structure obtained for members of a population of the same species of animal being examined when there was no inflammation or infection of the anatomical structure. More preferably, the predetermined value represents an equivalent measure of temperature information for one or more infrared thermographic images of the animal obtained at a time when there was no inflammation or infection of the anatomical structure of the animal, and more preferably, when the animal was healthy.
  • a change in the mean temperature of less than 1 °C of an anatomical structure relative to the mean temperature of the same anatomical structure of the same animal or a population of animals of the same species obtained from infrared thermographic images taken when there was no inflammation of the anatomical structure indicates early or subclinical inflammation.
  • a change in the mean temperature of greater than 1 °C of an anatomical structure relative to the mean temperature of the same anatomical structure of the same animal or a population of animals of the same species obtained from infrared thermographic images indicates late stage development of inflammation.
  • inflammation of an anatomical structure of an animal is detected if the mean of the temperature information obtained from the infrared thermographic image is preferably greater than 0.2 °C, more preferably greater than 0.1 °C the mean of the temperature information for previously obtained infrared thermographic images of the same animal when there was no inflammation of the anatomical structure.
  • inflammation of an anatomical structure of an animal is detected if the mean of the temperature information obtained from the infrared thermographic image is preferably greater than 0.2 °C, more preferably greater than 0.1 °C the mean temperature obtained from infrared thermographic images for the same anatomical structure of the same species of animal when there was no inflammation of the anatomical structure.
  • a change in the mean temperature of less than 1 °C of an anatomical structure relative to the mean temperature of the same anatomical structure of the same animal preinfection indicates early or subclinical infection.
  • a change in the mean temperature of less than 1 °C of an anatomical structure relative to the mean temperature of the same anatomical structure of one or more uninfected animals of the same species indicates early or subclinical infection.
  • a change in the mean temperature greater than 1 °C of an anatomical structure relative to the mean temperature of the same anatomical structure of the same animal preinfection indicates clinical infection.
  • a change in the mean temperature greater than 1 °C of an anatomical structure relative to the mean temperature of the same anatomical structure of one or more uninfected animals of the same species indicates clinical infection.
  • the rate of change in temperature (not the absolute value per se) of an anatomical structure of an animal relative to the rate of change in temperature of the same anatomical structure in the animal preinfection indicates infection.
  • the rate of change in temperature (not the absolute value per se) of an anatomical structure of an animal relative to the rate of change in temperature of the same anatomical structure of one or more uninfected animals of the same species indicates infection.
  • infection of an anatomical structure of an animal is detected if the mean of the temperature information obtained from the infrared thermographic image is preferably greater than 0.2 °C, more preferably greater than 0.1 °C the mean of the temperature information for previously obtained infrared thermographic images of the same anatomical structure of the same animal preinfection.
  • infection of an anatomical structure of an animal is detected if the mean of the temperature information obtained from the infrared thermographic image is preferably greater than 0.2 °C, more preferably greater than 0.1 °C the mean temperature obtained from infrared thermographic images for the same anatomical structure of one or more uninfected animals of the same species.
  • inflammation or infection of an anatomical structure is detected if a measure of temperature information for an infrared thermographic image of an anatomical structure of the animal is equivalent to or greater than the predetermined value for the anatomical structure of the animal.
  • the predetermined value represents the mean temperature obtained from infrared thermographic images of the same anatomical structure in members of the same species of an animal when there is inflammation or an infection.
  • inflammation or infection of an anatomical structure of an animal is detected if the change in temperature obtained by successive infrared images of the same anatomical structure of the same animal is greater than a predetermined rate, preferably greater than a rate of 0.1 °C/hour.
  • a predetermined rate preferably greater than a rate of 0.1 °C/hour.
  • successive infrared images of an anatomical structure of an animal are taken every 10, 30 or 60 minutes.
  • inflammation of an anatomical structure of an animal is detected if the total temperature of a section of an infrared thermographic image corresponding to one anatomical structure of the animal differs by more than a predetermined amount, preferably 10%, from the total temperature of a section of the infrared thermographic image corresponding to the symmetrical anatomical structure of the animal.
  • the total temperature preferably represents the area or volume of the relevant image section, which can be represented as a number of pixels, multiplied by the mean pixel temperature.
  • area or volume information alone, independent from temperature information, can be used to detect inflammation of an anatomical structure of an animal. Inflammation of an anatomical structure of an animal is detected if the area or volume of a section of an infrared thermographic image corresponding to one anatomical structure of the animal differs by more than a predetermined amount, preferably 10%, from the area or volume of a section of the infrared thermographic image corresponding to the symmetrical anatomical structure of the animal.
  • the infrared thermographic temperature information can be normalized or standardized by compensating the temperature information to account for one or more of the following: (i) the state of lactation of the animal; (ii) the state of parity of the animal; (iii) the circadian temperature variation; (iv) the diurnal temperature variation; (v) the animal breed; (vi) the animal housing conditions; or (vii) the geographic location.
  • An adjustment for the state of lactation of an animal would be useful for normalization because animals in early lactation typically have a higher milk production and hence larger udders.
  • An adjustment for the state of parity of an animal would also be useful for normalization because cows, for example, typically in their third or fourth parity will have larger udders than cows in their first parity.
  • Adjustments to normalize the infrared thermographic data depending on when an animal is observed during the day should be performed because an animal's normal temperature will fluctuate over a 24 hour period. The temperature change during the day will also vary with the time of day a cow is milked, hence, a normalization scale would be useful. Adjustments to normalize infrared thermographic data obtained from different breeds of animals should be performed because of differences in their anatomical structures. Furthermore, adjustments to normalize the infrared thermographic data obtained from animals housed differently (e.g., in barns with concrete floors versus in barns with rubber marts) and in different geographic locations (e.g., Edmonton versus Orlando) should be performed.
  • inflammatory diseases in an animal preferably a mammal and most preferably a human are detected using infrared thermography.
  • inflammatory diseases include, but are not limited to, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, acute respiratory distress syndrome, asthma, osteoporosis, Crohn's disease, reactive arthritis, Lyme disease, multiple sclerosis, contact dermatitis, psoriasis, graft rejection, graft versus host disease, and sarcoidosis.
  • diseases or disorders that induce an inflammatory response in an animal are detected by infrared thermography.
  • infectious diseases and disorders include, but are not limited to, allergic rhinitis, gastrointestinal allergies, food allergies, eosinophilia, conjunctivitis, glomerular nephritis, bovine respiratory syncitial disease, and lameness.
  • infectious diseases in an animal preferably a mammal and most preferably a human are detected using infrared thermography.
  • Infectious diseases include diseases associated with yeast, fungal, viral and bacterial infections.
  • Viruses causing viral infections include, but are limited to, bovine virus diarrhea (“BVD”) virus, bovine respiratory syncitial virus, herpes simplex virus (HSV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human T-cell lymphotrophic virus (HTLV) type 1 and 2, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), cytomegalovirus, papilloma virus, polyoma viruses, adenoviruses, Epstein-Barr virus, poxviruses, influenza virus, measles virus, rabies virus, Sendai virus, poliomyelitis virus, coxsackieviruses, rhinoviruses, reoviruses, and rubella virus.
  • BDV herpes simplex virus
  • HBV herpes simplex virus
  • HBV herpes simplex virus
  • HBV herpes simplex virus
  • HBV herpes simplex virus
  • HBV herpes simplex virus
  • HBV
  • Bacterial pathogens causing infections include, but are not limited to, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria gonorrhoea, Neisseria meningitidis, Corynebacterium diphtheriae , Clostridium botulinum, Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium tetani, Haemophilus influenzae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Klebsiella ozaenae, Klebsiella rhinoscleromotis, Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio cholerae, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Campylobacter (Vibrio) fetus, Campylobacter jejuni, Aeromonas hydrophila, Bacillus cereus, Edwardsiella tar da, Yersinia enterocolitica, Yersiniapesti
  • cows Fifteen of the cows were additionally treated with experimental inflammation inhibitors.
  • the twenty cows were divided into four treatment groups of five animals each as follows: (i) control, no prophylactic treatment; (ii) aminoguanidine introduced into the cistern of the infected teat; (iii) arginine methyl ester introduced into the cistern of the
  • NAGase is a lysosomal enzyme secreted in the mammary gland during inflammation.
  • the presence of NAGase in milk is an indication of tissue damage (Perdigon, G. et al, 1986, J. Dairy Sci. 69: 27-31 ; Fang, W. et al., 1995, J. Dairy Sci. 79: 76-82; Losnedahl, K.J. et al., 1996, Illinois Dairy Report 1-4; Fang, W. and Pyorala, S., 1996, J. Dairy Sci. 79:76-82).
  • tissue damage Perdigon, G. et al, 1986, J. Dairy Sci. 69: 27-31 ; Fang, W. et al., 1995, J. Dairy Sci. 79: 76-82; Losnedahl, K.J. et al., 1996, Illinois Dairy Report 1-4; Fang, W. and Pyoral
  • Figures 9-17 The treatments with experimental inflammation inhibitors were largely ineffective, and did not significantly change the mastitis response. Therefore, the data in Tables 1 and 2, and Figures 9-17, is not presented separately for each of the anti- inflammation treatment groups.
  • Figures 9-12 provide least square means of data for the 20 animals tested.
  • Figures 14-16 show separately the results obtained from one of the 20 animals tested, the individual animal (reference no. 5029) showing a false-negative result for mastitis when measured by rectal temperature rather than by infrared thermography.
  • the same infrared thermographic (“IRT") data is depicted in each of Figures 9-12, plotted along with data obtained from various known techniques for detecting mastitis.
  • Figure 17 provides the IRT data presented in the form of total temperature (mean temperature x image area or volume).
  • Figure 9 shows the mean temperature of the infrared thermographic image of the left distal quarter of the udder (induced) and the mean temperature of the infrared thermographic image of the right distal quarter of the udder (control) plotted over a 24 hour time course, together with rectal temperature plotted over the same time frame.
  • the IRT data for the left and right distal quarters of the udder is very similar, although mastitis was induced only in the left distal quarter.
  • the high heat transfer capacity through the water found in living cells accounts for the even temperature distribution observed between the distal quarters of the udder.
  • the results from Figure 9 also indicate that the absolute change in temperature detected by IRT is greater than that detected by measurement of rectal temperature, and that the rate of temperature change detected by IRT is greater than that detected by measurement of rectal temperature.
  • the results in Table 1 indicate that the infrared thermographic image of the udder detected a statistically significant temperature difference (p ⁇ 0.05) by the 1 hour point after mastitis induction, whereas a significant difference in rectal temperature was not detected until much later (the 6 hour point after mastitis induction).
  • Figures 10, 11 and 12 plot the same IRT temperature information as in Figure 9, together with various standard measurements used in the detection of mastitis.
  • Figure 10 shows the NAGase levels in the left and right distal udder quarters over the first 24 hours after induction of mastitis in the left distal quarter.
  • the NAGase level in the left distal quarter increased sharply, indicative of mastitis, while there was little change in the NAGase level in the right distal quarter.
  • an increase in NAGase level in the non-induced quarter would not be expected.
  • Figures 11 and 12 depict similar results, showing, respectively, a significant increase in BSA level and somatic cell count in the left distal udder quarter and little or no change in the right distal quarter.
  • Figures 10, 11 and 12 indicate that the mastitis induction model was indeed successful in inducing mastitis in the treated udder quarter, detectable by objective identifiers of mastitis, and that mastitis was also detected by IRT.
  • Figures 14, 15 and 16 emphasize the superior results that can be achieved by the methods of the invention over other temperature measurement techniques. These figures provide data for one of the test animals (animal no. 5029), in which rectal temperature remained nearly unchanged over the first 24 hours after induction of mastitis, whereas mean udder temperature as measured by IRT, changed significantly ( Figure 14). Hence, in an animal in which measurement of rectal temperature disclosed a false-negative result, IRT of the udder correctly detected induced mastitis. Confirmation of induction of mastitis in animal no 5029 is documented in Figures 15 and 16 which show, respectively, significantly increased NAGase and BSA levels in the left distal quarter (induced) relative to the right distal quarter (non-induced).
  • Figure 13 shows the change in udder quarter area, as represented by number of pixels in an IRT image, for left (induced) and right (non-induced) distal udder quarters for 20 animals over the 24 hour period after mastitis induction.
  • the data in Figure 13 is independent of temperature, and only refers to the number of pixels in a defined area of the image. It is apparent in Figure 13 that the swelling of the left distal quarter of the udder relative to the right distal quarter (resulting in a lack of symmetry) as a result of mastitis induction was readily detected from the IRT image.
  • Figure 17 combines IRT image area and mean image temperature as a total temperature (mean pixel temperature x number of pixels).
  • IRT temperature of the left distal quarter there was a very close symmetry between the IRT temperature of the left distal quarter and that of the right distal quarter, presumably due to the high heat transfer capacity of living cells.
  • the left distal quarter (induced) exhibits a much higher total temperature than the right distal quarter (non-induced).
  • the temperature information remains the same as in Figure 9, but the greater area of the portion of the image representative of the left distal quarter of the udder relative to the area of the right distal quarter (as a result of swelling in response to mastitis) is reflected in the total temperature measurement.
  • the mean IRT image temperature at the time - 1 h (1 hour before induction of mastitis) reflects the IRT image temperature of the udder when the animals do not have mastitis, and therefore acts as a control IRT temperature for the animals in a healthy state.
  • the mean IRT temperature for both the left and right hind udder quarters for the 20 animals was less than 1 °C greater than the control value of 32.19 °C.
  • an IRT udder temperature less than 1 °C greater than a control value for an animal in a healthy state is indicative of mastitis in a subject mammal.
  • Figure 9 and Table 1 shows that, during the first 24 hours after induction of the mastitis model, mean IRT temperature for both the left and right distal udder quarters for the 20 animals tested changed at a rate of at least 0.1 °C per hour, whether increasing or decreasing. Hence, a rate of change of IRT temperature of at least 0.1 °C per hour is indicative of mastitis in a subject mammal.
  • Figure 13 shows that during the first 24 hours after induction of mastitis in the left distal quarter of the udder, the area of the portion of the image corresponding to the induced quarter is at least 10% greater than that of the non-induced (control) right distal quarter of the udder.
  • the total temperature (mean pixel temperature x number of pixels) of the portion of the image corresponding to the induced quarter is at least 10% greater than that of the non-induced (control) right distal quarter of the udder.
  • the total temperature of a portion of the image corresponding to a first quarter of the udder of the animal differs from the total temperature of a portion of the image corresponding to a second quarter of the udder of the animal by greater than 10%, this is indicative of mastitis in the animal.
  • Table 2 Time course for mean total temperature values (infrared thermographic temperatures X udder area in pixels) for left, distal udder quarter (mastitis induced) and right, distal udder quarter (non-induced) in lactating dairy cows. Values represent least squares means for 20 cows.
  • X,Y, - means with different letters within rows are significantly different (PO.05). Left is the mastitis induced distal quarter, right is the distal, non-induced quarter (control).

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Abstract

L'invention concerne un procédé de détection d'inflammations chez des animaux à l'aide d'une thermographie infrarouge. L'invention concerne également un procédé permettant de diagnostiquer des infections, des maladies ou des troubles induisant des inflammations à l'aide d'une thermographie infrarouge. L'invention se base sur la surprenante découverte que les différences de température inférieures à 1 °C sont pertinentes du point de vue clinique. La découverte a eu lieu grâce à l'utilisation d'un modèle d'induction de la mammite, lequel a permis aux déposants d'évaluer l'inflammation résultant d'une étiologie connue et de comparer les diagrammes infrarouges obtenus à l'aide d'une caméra infrarouge avec des résultats obtenus par d'autres procédures de diagnostic. De cette manière, les déposants ont découvert que les différences de température inférieures à 1 °C indiquent une inflammation précoce ou subclinique, et que les différences de température supérieures à 1 °C indiquent des étapes tardives du développement de l'inflammation.
PCT/US2000/007593 1999-03-22 2000-03-22 Detection precoce d'inflammations et d'infections au moyen d'une thermographie infrarouge Ceased WO2000057164A1 (fr)

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EP1356418A4 (fr) * 2000-12-15 2005-09-28 Omnicorder Technologies Inc Procede et dispositif permettant d'effectuer des mesures physiologiques au moyen d'un detecteur d'infrarouges
WO2004089206A1 (fr) * 2003-04-10 2004-10-21 Singapore Technologies Electronics Limited Procede et appareil pour mesurer la temperature d'un corps
DE102009042775A1 (de) * 2009-09-25 2011-07-07 Julian Pablo 64546 Berz Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur telemetrischen Bestimmung der Körpertemperatur aus der periokulären Infrarotabstrahlung bei Menschen und warmblütigen Tieren (Augenthermometer)
US8789494B2 (en) 2010-12-09 2014-07-29 Smart Farm Technologies Limited Detection apparatus for the monitoring of milking animals
WO2012080275A1 (fr) * 2010-12-15 2012-06-21 Agricam Ab Système et procédé de commande d'un système de traite automatique
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US10964019B2 (en) 2018-08-22 2021-03-30 EIO Diagnostics, Inc. System for high performance, AI-based dairy herd management and disease detection
US20240164645A1 (en) * 2022-11-21 2024-05-23 Infrared Cameras, Inc. Apparatus for noninvasive veterinary screening and diagnosis
CN115836841A (zh) * 2022-11-23 2023-03-24 深兰自动驾驶研究院(山东)有限公司 乳腺监测方法、装置和计算机可读存储介质
CN119073926A (zh) * 2024-11-08 2024-12-06 内蒙古农业大学 一种奶牛飞节肿胀检测设备及检测方法
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