Infrared Thermography for Real-Time Assessment of the Effectiveness of Scoliosis Braces

Abstract

This work proposes an innovative method, based on the use of low-cost infrared thermography (IRT) instrumentation, to assess in real time the effectiveness of scoliosis braces. Establishing the effectiveness of scoliosis braces means deciding whether the pressure exerted by the brace on the patient’s back is adequate for the intended therapeutic purpose. Traditionally, the evaluation of brace effectiveness relies on empirical, qualitative assessments carried out by orthopedists during routine follow-up examinations. Hence, it heavily depends on the expertise of the orthopedists involved. In the state of the art, the only objective methods used to confirm orthopedists’ opinions are based on the evaluation of how scoliosis progresses over time, often exposing people to ionizing radiation. To address these limitations, the method proposed in this work aims to provide a real-time, objective assessment of the effectiveness of scoliosis braces in a non-harmful way. This is achieved by exploiting the thermoelastic effect and correlating temperature changes on the patient’s back with the mechanical pressure exerted by the braces. A system based on this method is implemented and then validated through an experimental study on 21 patients conducted at an accredited orthopedic center. The experimental results demonstrate a classification accuracy slightly below 70% in discriminating between adequate and inadequate pressure, which is an encouraging result for further advancement in view of the clinical use of such systems in orthopedic centers.

Methodology for Thermal Analysis of Combustion Engines, Applied to Automobiles

“…We found applications where we try to measure the temperature of the head in children and in specific places, as in the case of the eyes, we resort to analysis with a central point in the eye, this method is noninvasive, because the thermal images do not affect people [11]. We also found works where it refers to the control of the recovery of patients with scoliosis, in order to evaluate the body temperature by using thermal imaging [12]. With the use of these thermal images, we can identify and classify emotions in people with the use of optical images, using image fusion mechanism [13,14].…”