Clinical Background
Diabetes is reaching pandemic levels, affecting over half a billion people.
- Up to 75 % of Diabetic Foot Ulcers (DFUs) can be prevented by early detection
- 85 % of lower extremity amputations (LEAs) are preceded by a DFU
- 50 % of DFU patients die within 5 years
- 70 % of LEA patients die within 5 years
Diabetic foot complications remain a major cause of morbidity and healthcare burden.
Peripheral neuropathy, vascular impairment, and repetitive stress often allow tissue damage to progress unnoticed until ulceration becomes visible.
The Role of Thermal Imaging in Diabetic Foot Assessment
Thermal imaging provides an objective, non‑contact method to assess foot temperature distribution in seconds. For patients with neuropathy, subtle inflammation can be visually documented even when symptoms are absent.
Key advantages
- Full‑surface assessment: reveals patterns across both feet simultaneously.
- Objective data: supports consistent documentation and clinical decision‑making.
- Asymmetry detection: helps identify localized areas of increased metabolic activity.
- Non‑contact and fast: suitable for routine monitoring without adding procedural burden.
Typical Findings Seen in Thermal Imaging
- Asymmetric hotspots indicating localized inflammation
- Diffuse warming related to infection or systemic changes
- Cold areas indicating impaired perfusion
- Temperature gradients reflecting offloading success or failure
Clinical Workflow Integration
Thermidas thermal imaging is designed to fit naturally into existing diabetic foot evaluation pathways. After sufficient training, nurses, podiatrists, or medical assistants can capture thermal images in minutes.
When to perform a thermography scan?
- Routine diabetic foot exams
- High‑risk patient follow‑up
- Monitoring suspected Charcot foot
- Wound clinic visits
- Evaluation of offloading effectiveness
How thermal images support decision‑making?
- Identify areas requiring offloading or pressure redistribution
- Guide need for further imaging or specialist referral
- Monitor progression or resolution of inflammation
- Improve patient communication through visual feedback
Recommended solution
Thermidas IRT-384 Tablet
The IRT-384 Tablet provides a quick and cost-effective solution for locating problem areas and monitoring the effectiveness of treatment.
Thermal imaging also supports the client’s understanding of rehabilitation progress by providing clear, objective information on the effects of treatment.
Why temperature matters
- Extensive research shows skin breakdown takes place with persistent >2°C elevated temperature for up to 10 days
- Up to 75 % of diabetic foot ulcers can be prevented by early detection
- Up to 91 % of pre-ulcerous sites can be identified by the detection of temperature anomalies
Thermal Patterns Reveal Early Warning Signs
- People with normal physiological function will reflect thermal symmetry
- The same body area on the contralateral sides of the body will have similar temperatures
- Infrared Thermography will instantly highlight anomalies
Diabetes statistics
Diabetes is the #3 killer in USA after heart disease and cancer
530 million +
Diabetics worldwide
44% undiagnosed
$966 bil. health expenditure
6.7 mil. deaths annually
Up to 34 %
Of diabetics develop a DFU (1)40 % recurrence in one year (1)
20 % lead to amputation (2)
$13 billion
Cost of DFUs in the U.S. (3)32 mil. total diabetics
4 mil. undiagnosed
$379 bil. health expenditure
£900 million
Cost of DFUs in the UK (4)4 mil. total diabetics
0.9 mil. undiagnosed
$23 mil. health expenditure
(1) Armstrong, David G et al. “Diabetic Foot Ulcers and Their Recurrence.” (2017)
(2) McDermott, Katherine et al. “Etiology, Epidemiology, and Disparities in the Burden of Diabetic Foot Ulcers.” (2023)
(3) Rice, J Bradford et al. “Burden of diabetic foot ulcers for medicare and private insurers.” (2014)
(4) Kerr, M et al. “The cost of diabetic foot ulcers and amputations to the National Health Service in England.” (2019)
The rest: International Diabetes Federation. IDF Diabetes Atlas, 10th edn. Brussels, Belgium: 2021. Available at: https://www.diabetesatlas.org
Charcot foot - Charcot's neuroarthropathy
Early diagnosis of Charcot foot is challenging and the condition is misdiagnosed frequently. Infrared dermal thermometry has been found to be a useful tool in clinical and research settings to provide a reliable assessment of skin temperature in patients with Charcot neuroarthropathy (1).
(1) Dallimore, S.M., Puli, N., Kim, D. et al. Infrared dermal thermometry is highly reliable in the assessment of patients with Charcot neuroarthropathy. J Foot Ankle Res 13, 56 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13047-020-00421-z
How Digital Thermography is Enhancing Patient Engagement in Diabetes-Related Charcot Foot
Case Example
Thermal images of a Charcot patient
- First image revealed a Charcot suspicion on the patient’s left foot
- Second image is a diagnosed Charcot foot on right foot
- ΔT max on the second image is 8°C
Fushimi H, Inoue T, Nishikawa M, Matsuyama Y, Kitagawa J. A new index of autonomic neuropathy in diabetes mellitus: heat stimulated thermographic patterns
Case Example
Blisters & Poor Circulation
- Visual images of the same feet on the upper row
- Thermal images help detect and locate the problem areas
- High-temperature areas showing weight stress with the potential for skin breakdown
Case Example
Thermal images of a PAD patient
- CFA-ATA bypass to the right
- Left SFA in stenoses, PA prox. blocked, dist.
- PA fills through collaterals, FA only open
- ABI 1.0 / 0.89, TBP 100/23 mmHg, TBI 0.47 / 0.10
The Thermidas solution
Thermidas provides revolutionary, non-contact, non-invasive, physiological diagnostic tools utilizing thermography to detect and assess underlying pathology quickly and reliably at earlier stages than most currently adopted methods.
Our solutions for medical thermal imaging
IRT-384 Tablet
Thermidas IRT-384 Tablet is an all-in-one mobile solution for thermal imaging. It quickly highlights temperature differences, allowing intuitive, instant analysis.
FDA Cleared
CE Certified
ThIR-A615
The first medical CE-approved Infrared Thermal Imaging application in the world.
A thermal imaging workstation for hospitals, clinics, and surgery rooms.
FDA Cleared
CE Certified
Telehealth
Easy-to-use thermal imaging solutions for daily monitoring at home. Includes the devices and software for transferring the images to medical professionals.
In development.