Thermography as a Means of Blood Perfusion Measurement

Abstract

The scanning infrared camera has been used to verify an analytical model relating blood perfusion rate to skin temperature. The blood perfusion rates were measured with both the mercury strain gage and the volume plethysmograph on the human forearm. Thermograms were taken of the forearm and temperature measured using an optical densitometer. Comparison of the volume plethysmograph with the strain gage, and the thermograms with the strain gage indicate thermography to be a useful means of measuring blood flow. Thermography has the advantages of being noninvasive and can be used to measure blood perfusion in parts of the body not easily monitored with occlusive techniques.