Diabetes and
thermal imaging

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

Number of adults with diabetes worldwide

Thermal imaging helps with the early detection of diabetic foot ulcers

  • 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
  • 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​

PAD - Peripheral Arterial Disease

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

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

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
“Thermography is one of the most reliable, reproducible and noninvasive indexes for finding and following diabetic sympathetic abnormalities”

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

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

Clinical Tablet

All-in-one mobile solution for thermal imaging including a high-resolution thermal camera and Thermidas VistaClinic software.

FDA Cleared
In EU: Ask for availability

Clinical​ Cart

CE-certified thermal imaging solutions for hospitals, clinics and surgery rooms.

Available as portable and workstation solutions.

FDA Cleared
CE0598 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.

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