How ThermoHuman works: the method to analyze that adds value and saves time
The use of thermography has spread for its speed, ease of use and ability to interpret and analyze thermal images. But not all methods analyze thermograms in the same way.
ThermoHuman is based on a series of artificial vision algorithms that recognize the human body and allow different areas of the skin to be segmented into regions of interest and to analyze it. To do this, we must follow a specific protocol that ensures high quality in the taking of images. The ideal is to acclimatize the body for a period in the room where the evaluation is going to be performed, the regions of the body to be analyzed must be uncovered and the influencing factors must be recorded (such as previous injuries, pain or time since the last workout) (Moreira D. et al 2019).
After finishing the protocol, the thermographic evaluation can be done that we will conclude analyzing and processing the results.
The way to obtain thermographic images with ThermoHuman.
There are currently two ways to obtain thermographic images, the traditional method and the automatic method (a third way is presently being worked on, which will improve this last).
On the one hand the traditional method, a camera is required to take images and record them on an SD card, Micro SD card or on the device itself, and then transfer those images to the software
On the other hand, the automatic method (requires a Windows operating system to install the driver hosted in the ThermoHuman application) allows the recognition of the cameras through the software itself. After the driver installation is complete, the camera connects to the computer, the software recognizes the camera and the possibility to open the camera driver and take the photo directly from the software appears. View the video (Figure 1)
Both methods are optimized and don´t take more than 30 seconds in the process of analyzing thermographic images.
How to segment and analyze body regions.
One of the biggest advantages of ThermoHuman software lies in its ability to automatically segment more than 110 body regions using machine vision algorithms. This method of automatic segmentation allows a substantial saving of time compared to traditional methods. In addition, it adds to the qualitative interpretation the quantitative part that makes the analysis an objective process.
Both methods are optimized and don´t take more than 30 seconds in the process of analyzing thermographic images.
This process has been compared with manual methods to assess its reliability and time-saving capacity, showing benefits such as an 86% time saving per protocol (If we analyze 4 protocols manually it would take approximately 12 minutes, while the software manages to do it in less than 20 seconds). In addition, in the intra-observer and inter-observer comparisons the results show greater reliability (ICC=0.96) than the manual process (Requena-Bueno et al 2020).
Therefore, ThermoHuman software is an element that makes the difference when analyzing regions of interest in thermographic images.
Figure 2. Typical report from an individual in ThermoHuman.
The way ThermoHuman software is interpreted.
Once the image is processed and the evaluation saved, the software takes less than 15 seconds to show you all the information regarding the regions of interest, which can be exported as a PDF report. (Figure 2)
That assessment includes all ThermoHuman metrics, allowing advanced analysis. In addition, as a functionality there is an alarm system based on artificial intelligence equations that interpret which regions are not behaving normally, based on historical individual data, regulatory values from the ThermoHuman database, and regions at highest risk of injury (called by ThermoHuman as “Alarm System”)
These systems allow a faster and more intuitive interpretation thanks to the avatar view of the metrics. In addition, if you want to delve into the data, you can export tables with the temperature data by region or create graphs with the metrics of the thermograms. In order to apply thermography in health and sport.
The applications of infrared thermography in health and sport
Conclusions to analyze
The ThermoHuman software represents an advance in the process of analysis and interpretation of thermograms, reducing the time to obtain the results of a thermographic evaluation and improving interpretation through artificial intelligence systems that allow identifying regions with anomalous behavior.
All these functions help improve the understanding of the thermal patterns of the human to apply thermography in health and sport.
References
Moreira, D. G., Costello, J. T., Brito, C. J., Adamczyk, J. G., Ammer, K., Bach, A. J., … & Sillero-Quintana, M. (2017). Thermographic imaging in sports and exercise medicine: A Delphi study and consensus statement on the measurement of human skin temperature. Journal of Thermal Biology, 69, 155-162.
Requena-Bueno, L., Priego-Quesada, J. I., Jimenez-Perez, I., Gil-Calvo, M., & Pérez-Soriano, P. (2020). Validation of ThermoHuman automatic thermographic software for assessing foot temperature before and after running. Journal of Thermal Biology, 92, 102639.
ThermoHuman has had the support of the Funds of the European Union and the Community of Madrid through the Operational Programme on Youth Employment. Likewise, ThermoHuman within the framework of the Export Initiation Program of ICEX NEXT, had the support of ICEX and the co-financing of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). 
