The temperature of the skin varies as a function of the underlying circulation of the blood, the metabolism of local sauctures, the thermal conductivity, the difference in temperature between the skin and the environment and the moisture of the skin. It has long e n known that defects of circulation, active tumors, changes in body structure and other effects may affect the surface temperatlrre and provide useful diagnostic information [ 11. Skin surface temperature dismbutions revealed by infrared (IR) imaging techniques can be used to identify mas of thermal abnormality. IR imaging technology has continually improved over merit years and systems are commercially available for the medical field [2].Technology originally developed for military imaging applications is now beiig effectively utilized in thermographic medical imaging systems. Typically, however, these medical devices will be expensive reflecting the expensive sensor anays and complex optics that have been adopted from the military systems. The authors have developed a system, based on a new imaging concept, which reduces the cost of military imagers [3-51. The authors believe that this technology can also be transferred to the medical field thus reducing the cost of thermographic imagers while providing more diagnostic infomation. In particular, the Frequency modulated Reticle Imaging Thermal Energy (FRlTE) concept reduces the need for expensive t w e b n s i o n a l IR detector arrays, sometimes referred to as "staring" arrays. This same FM reticle concept also allows the system to extract more specpalinformation fromthe tissue source than is currently done. The goal of this work is to have a single multispead imager that would image from the ulnaviolet (UV) to the far infrared thus reducing the cost to a medical facility that needed to image in multiple s p e d bands. The authors will present data and images captured on an existing prmf-of-concept system as well as details on the next generation system for medical imaging. INTRODUCTIONThe need for non-invasive and non-ionizing characterization of tissues, particularly the breass prostate, uterus and cervix, ovaries, testes and thyroid has created the demand for novel types of instrumentation. Thermographic diagnostic imaging, when used in conjunction with other diagnostic techniques, is used to identify vascular disorders, functional impairment of underlying organs or glands,
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