High accuracy thermal imaging

The Thermology Health thermal imaging device is the result of a collaboration between IDC and the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) to create a product that facilitates full foot temperature mapping and is ten times more accurate than existing products.

The thermal imaging device’s primary goal is to reduce diabetes related foot amputations by detecting ulceration early so effective treatment can be given. Due to the lack of sensation and poor mobility in diabetic patients, damage to the foot can easily go unnoticed and lead to infection, ulceration and ultimately amputation. Foot ulcers are a growing concern with 537 million diabetics worldwide which is set to grow to 643 million in 2030 with 15% to 25% of diabetics expected to develop an ulcer in their lifetime. This has an impact on both the patients and the healthcare system, leading to approximately 2,900 amputations every week in the US due to diabetes and 175 in the UK costing $80 billion p.a. in the US and £1 billion p.a. in the UK.

The Thermology Health device uses high accuracy thermal imaging to create medically accurate temperature data proven by published clinical trials. The device uses an AI diagnostic platform to aid clinicians in early identification. Prevention of disease is possible with early intervention. The rapid, easy to use platform turns biometric datasets into scans and reports in seconds. The device is suitable for use in both clinical and at-home environments.

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IDC became involved in the development of this product to accelerate Thermology Health's work and develop a CE and UKCA certified product in just 4 months. Building on some initial prototype work that NPL had created previously, IDC went through industrial design and usability phases, mechanical and electrical concept generation, design for manufacture, software design, prototyping and full certification in this short time frame. Delivering a product that is easy to use and incredibly accurate. CE marking is a self-declaration where a manufacturer proves compliance with EU health, safety and environmental protection legislation and confirms a product’s compliance with relevant requirements. In the same way, UKCA marking proves compliance with UK legislation.

Using IDCs in-house electronics team, they designed and implemented the electronic hardware and software to carry out the functionality of the thermal imaging device, achieving dramatically improved measurement accuracy. The user experience was carefully considered throughout the design process resulting in a large touch screen on the front of the device, which the users interact with to operate the device and displays thermal imaging analysis for clinicians to analyze. IDC designed the graphical user interface (GUI) which delivers an intuitive user experience for clinicians to take temperate measurements quickly and simply.

“This project drew on all of IDCs core capabilities; requiring close collaboration between engineering, electronics, software, and ID as well as rapid prototyping, to deliver a CE and UKCA marked device in under 5 months. I am incredibly proud of the team and their work to deliver the project in a seemingly impossible time frame,” says Michal Uhman, Project Manager IDC.