TAS Image Analysis Software
Featuring
Spatial Thermal Imaging© (STI)
TAS Image Analysis Software is a powerful integrated suite of advanced, yet easy-to-use, thermal image manipulation and enhancement tools for accurate analysis of thermal images. Spatial Thermal Imaging©, precision Segmentation, and Isotherm are the core modes, with STI providing amazing visualizations of subcutaneous tissue, organs, and physiological functions within the body (from standard grayscale thermal images captured with medical-grade infrared-sensitive cameras).
- Spatial Thermal Imaging provides visualization of selected regions inside the body.
- STI is capable of resolving subcutaneous tissue to less than 1mm using an entry-level, medium-resolution camera.
- A combination of traditional and new capabilities designed to provide a complete solution for the thermography practitioner:
- Spatial Thermal Imaging - providing visualization of specific subcutaneous regions of the body.
- Image Segmentation - for measuring & visualizing thermal symmetry.
- Variable-ΔT Isotherms - to outline areas of common temperature within a selectable narrow or wide range of temperature.
- Full-spectrum [false] colored images for quick identification of elevated or diminished temperatures.
- Image Negation, Tinting & Filtering - for image enhancement and manipulation to aid analysis.
- Adjustable Regions-of-Interest (ROI) - to create elliptical or rectangular regions within an image and record their average temperature, and to create point markers of point temperatures.
- Image text annotation with delineation markers (arrows, points, shapes).
The Image Analysis Software interface comprises four main regions:
1) Image Workspace
2) Image Parameters & Basic Controls
3) Image Processing & Analysis
4) Save image, Reinitialize, Exit
The Image workspace comprises image loading, image working and viewing area, reference thumbnail image, and error messages.
Contains provision for setting image temperature boundaries; displaying image output parameters and measurements, traditional midtones, contrast and brightness controls, image zooming, and 'magnifying glass.'
This is the primary area containing image processing and analysis tools. Controls are grouped according to generic functionality, and all controls are displayed on-screen for quick access.
A. Spatial Thermal Imaging Controls
These controls provide visualization of regions, organs and physiological functions beneath the surface layer of the skin.
- Source activates the source image processing and view mode.
- STI activates the STI image processing mode.
- Hybrid provides a macroscopic view of the source image, with an STI image contained in the magnifier window.
- Level determines the relative distance beneath the surface
- Precision determines the relative precision of the visualization.
B. Standalone Image Analysis and Adjuvant STI Tools
This suite of flexible image analysis tools may be employed independently or to augment STI.
- Segment mode is useful for visualizing thermal symmetry to quickly answer, "Is the average temperature difference between two regions equal-to-or-greater-than a set temperature difference, ΔT, defined by controllable lower and upper temperature thresholds.
- Threshold controls the temperature setting for the lower threshold value.
- ΔT controls the upper temperature setting. Image temperatures above the upper setting appear red. Two controls are used to fine tune the range value and two similar controls respectively decrement and increment the threshold control.
- Image temperatures below the lower threshold appear blue. Temperatures above an upper threshold (threshold + range) appear in red. Regions without coloring appear when the temperature is between the two temperature settings, ΔT.
- Iso(therm) mode is used to highlight regions within a common, precision or wide range of temperatures.
- Similar to the Segment mode, the highlighted temperature range is bound by a low temperature value set with Threshold and an upper temperature value set with ΔT°C.
- Color mode is employed to visualize the image in false color.
- Lvl controls the transparency of the colors in each of the above three functions.
The Segment, Span and ISO functions, combined with adjusted overlay transparency are purposeful and powerful as standalone tools and in an adjuvant role to the analysis of STI-processed images:
C. Image Enhancement and Ancillary Functions
Controls in this panel are separated into five categories: 1) image colorization; 2) image filter enhancement; 3) displayed image source; 4) data source selection, and 5) symmetry 'zero-override.'
- Tint (Image colorization) - Oftentimes visualization of details is improved by tinting the image. The Tint control is a dropdown dialog box offering a choice of tinting color:
- The Clr slider control adjusts the colorization level.
Raw STI-processing of images itself reveals myriad issues, but visualization of otherwise occult issues is often achieved by altering the image. Four built-in tools provide the ability to Reverse (negate), Sharpen, Emboss, and Mask the image.
- Neg(ative) - Checking Neg(ative) produces a negative, or reversed image.
D. Region(s)-of-Interest - ROI:
A Region of Interest (ROI) is a selected image sample identified for a particular purpose, or as an annotation, e.g., the average temperature within an ellipse or rectangle, or the temperature at a point.
TAS image analysis software provides for the creation of point markers and elliptical and rectangular regions. ROI type selection is achieved by selecting the desired ROI symbol:
- Create an elliptical ROI and measure the average temperature within the ellipse.
- Create a rectangular ROI and measure the average temperature within the rectangle.
- Create a point marker and display the point temperature.
- Create a left or right-pointing delineation arrows.
- Generate text annotation on image.
- Clear the image of all ROI's.
E. Save Image, Refresh Image, Resets, Exit and Help:
