A Word about Thermographic Equipment for Medical Use
We receive a tremendous amount of email concerning thermographic equipment for medical use. This is an area in which a lot of spin-doctoring takes place in marketing and sales. For this reason, we have elected to provide you with some very basic essentials when searching for a camera and software. We hope this helps you focus on quality equipment.
1) The manufacturer should have a 510K clearance from the FDA for their camera AND software. They should be more than happy to provide you with this document, and you should check it to see if it matches the current model sold. In some cases, a sales group has received the FDA 510K on a system, and then replaced the camera at some time with a lower resolution, cheaper product and still claims the "company" is FDA cleared. Be careful.
2) As of this writing in October of 2010, a remarkable decrease in camera cost has occur due to the significant increase in manufacturing for the military. Cameras which sold for $35,000 to 50,000 just a year ago have been replaced with better cameras in the 10,000 to $12,000 range including software. This is a remarkable advancement. Many companies who sell or VAR thermal cameras, buy these cameras at wholesale costs and mark them up tremendously, so be careful.
3) Specification sheets for thermography cameras can be very confusing for those who have not been trained, and also sales groups often "spin" the specifications and try to make them mean something different. A common ploy is to say that the "system" not the camera, has a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels. This most often means that they are talking about the display resolution of the MONITOR and in some cases these cameras actually have only a 125 x 120 pixel array. You need to know that there are cameras with 640 x 480 pixel arrays on the market and they are most excellent, but do not be deceived by this number with moderate to high end pricing as it may simply be the screen resolution they are stating.
4) One of the most important specification the MilliKelvin capability of the camera, expressed as mK. This has to do with the ACCURACY of the detector array. In the 90's - early 2000's we were using cameras with 125mK - 150 mK. In the mid 2000's we were at 80mK. Now in the late 2010 we are seeing low cost systems in the 35mK - 50 mK range.
5) It is no longer true that you get what you pay for when it comes to IR cameras. The larger houses like ICI and FLIR who are actual MANUFACTURERS of cameras can produce very high quality and reliable cameras at very low cost because of volume. Stay with trusted names, watch out for the "spin" and bells and whistles that are not important in every day practice and you will be just fine.
6) Another specification that is often quoted by salesman is that their cameras are accurate to 0.10C or a tenth of a degree centigrade. This is been an industry standard for decades, but cameras today are accurate to 0.08C. Higher accuracy means better measurement capability and a better clinical image.
7) Warranties. Make sure that you get a minimum of 2 years warranty on your camera. Ask about ongoing maintenance costs and find out if there is an optional warranty purchase. Some companies won't dive you more than 90 days and if you then go out of warranty, costs as high as $5,000 to simply "shop" the camera have been quoted. Also make sure to ask about yearly calibration requirements and fees.
8) Best to purchase a camera directly from a manufacturer who actually builds them. They can calibrate, repair and in some cases provide Loan Cameras if your system goes down (rare these days).
9) Accessories: Prices vary dramatically so shop careful. You typically do not have to do it all in one place. You will need a computer, typically a laptop. Laptop's are so much better these days than 5 years ago and provide portability and space savings. You will need a camera stand or tripod. The difference is quite simple. If you are only doing breast thermography for example, you only need a tripod. Depending on the weight of the camera, this will cost you $50.00 - $75.00. If you are doing Musculo-Skeletal or so-called full body thermography, you will need a camera stand that allows the camera to travel nearly to the floor for lower leg views and views of the feet. Many cameras have an F.O.V. (Field of View) that allows you to tilt the camera down for these views without losing thermal resolution. Ask your camera manufacturer about this. Camera Stands, such as the Bogen Monfroto, are very impressive looking, reliable and easy to move about, but will cost you in the $600-$800 range.
Please feel free to write us at any time with questions or concerns,
For more information visit this link http://www.thermographysales.com
For Training Information visit http://www.academy-of-medical-infarred-imaging.com
Better Diagnostics means Better and more Successful Treatment Outcomes
Interested in a 4 day Boot Camp for Physicians and Technicians? Email us at thermodoc@verizon.net
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