Quasi-real time acquisition and processing for biomedical IR and conventional imaging in surgery applications

Abstract: Surgery decision making is almost basically adopted by imaging, and for internal organs, imaging is the only tool for proceeding on. Interested imaging is obtained by as Xrays, CT (Computer Tomography), MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance), ultrasound, scintigraphy, and PET (Positron Emission Tomography). All the above techniques are correlated to specific instrumentation, and their manufacturers include dedicated software to output high quality images. However, despite advances in biomedical instrumentation technology, new issues, regarding insurgence of pathologies so far unknown, require as much techniques to be developed. In this spirit, infrared thermography, for instance, can ride to help us to solve this thorny issue. Infrared images have been used to discriminate interested organs with respect to tissues and adherences that must be taken in consideration for continuing and optimizing the surgery process. Modified linear and circular Hough transform have been used to process captured images. This paper illustrates findings related to quasi-real time acquisition and processing during surgery. Infrared processing has been compared to another technique based on atomic force microscopy-based algorithm. Hough technique is also treated.