IRT-384 Tablet
All-in-one mobile solution for thermal imaging including a high-resolution thermal camera and VistaClinic software.
FDA Cleared
In EU: Ask for availability
The same mechanisms cause pressure injuries
in care homes and hospitals
Pressure injuries usually occur on bony prominences, such as the heel or sacrum. They are caused by pressure on the skin or soft tissue, or a combination of pressure and shear.
Risk factors for pressure injuries include immobility, reduced perfusion, malnutrition, and sensory loss. Other risk factors include diabetes, incontinence, and cerebrovascular or cardiovascular disease.
The prevalence of pressure injuries in hospitals is 5–15%, but can be higher in long-term care and intensive care units. In nursing homes, 17–35% of patients have pressure injuries when they are admitted, and 7–23% of residents have them.
Sugathapala RDUP, et al. Prevalence and incidence of pressure injuries among older people living in nursing homes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Nurs Stud. 2023;148:104605. doi:10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2023.104605
The Problem
- Inconsistent skin assessments
- Variances in the risk assessment tools
- Delayed preventive interventions
Number of HAPIs
- Baseline 25.71
- Two months 2.55
- Six months ZERO
(per 1000 discharges)
Results
Thermal Imaging was permanently integrated into daily care to aid in the early detection and management of pressure injuries - Other studies have achieved ZERO HAPI for over 10 continuous months.
- After a 75-day evaluation, thermal imaging became a permanent tool in their HAPI management
Holster, 2023, DOI: 10.1097/01.ASW.0000912676.73372.a8
- Meta-analysis of studies over 10 years
- Conclusion: Infrared Thermography (IRT) is a low-cost, highly effective tool for wound care
- IRT should be an integral part of wound evaluations in the 21st century
Ramirez-GarciaLuna et al, 2022, Infrared Thermal Imaging: A New Paradigm for Wound Care. DOI:10.13140/RG.2.2.19985.30560
“We were able to make faster medical decisions, resulting in better outcomes, decreasing the use of expensive diagnostic exams, and in one case avoid a toe amputation.”
Fiona Main
NHS Highland
Case: Pressure ulcer prevention
- 78-year-old male, retirement home resident
- Paralysis of the left side of the body due to a cerebral infarction
- Fully bedridden, cannot sit up without assistance or change sides independently
- A thermal image was taken in connection with a routine physiotherapy session
- The thermal image revealed a high-risk area of ulceration on the paralyzed side of the back which was not yet visible to the naked eye
- As a result, healthcare personnel were able to commit daily measures (assisted sitting, frequent side changes) to prevent the formation of an ulcer
Case: Pressure ulcer prevention
- Mid-thirties female resident in residential home in Germany for adults with multiple disabilities
- Staff note change in resident behavior and mobility
- There were no signs of pressure injury visible to the naked eye
- Thermidas Tablet showed the painful area very clearly
- Pressure injuries can therefore be detected much more quickly and treated in good time
Backed up by research
Multiple studies emphasise that thermography provides quantitive data to objectively the temperature and area of pressure injuries is highly effective as an adjunctive method for the monitoring of the healing process and removes subjectivity in the assessment and monitoring of PI risk regardless of skin colour.
IWGDF Guidelines
“Home monitoring of plantar foot skin temperature at minimum once per day with an easy to use infrared thermometer, combined with subsequent preventative action when elevated temperatures were noted for two consecutive days, is statistically more effective than standard treatment for preventing foot ulcers in high-risk people with diabetes.”
“The application of infrared thermography into routine pressure injury risk assessment provides a timely and reliable method for nursing practitioners. Infrared thermography has great value of clinical application in daily pressure injury assessment. It is of great significance to make a faster and more objective clinical judgement for patients at risk of pressure injury”
“At-home daily foot temperature monitoring and reduction of ambulatory activity in response to hotspots reduce the risk of a DFU in moderate or high risk people with a low level of certainty.”
Golledge J, et al. Efficacy of at home monitoring of foot temperature for risk reduction of diabetes-related foot ulcer: A meta-analysis. Diabetes Metab Res Rev. 2022 Sep;38(6):e3549. doi: 10.1002/dmrr.3549. Epub 2022 Jun 8. PMID: 35605998; PMCID: PMC9541448.
“Using thermal imaging to document Deep Tissue Pressure Injuries when patients present has the potential to significantly reduce expenses associated with pressure injury litigation. The clinical and financial benefits of early documentation of skin surface thermal anomalies in anatomical areas of interest are significant.“
Koerner S, et al. Use of Thermal Imaging to Identify Deep-Tissue Pressure Injury on Admission Reduces Clinical and Financial Burdens of Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries. Adv Skin Wound Care. 2019;32(7):312-320. doi:10.1097/01.ASW.0000559613.83195.f9
“Wound-bed and periwound temperatures differed significantly with the grade of the pressure ulcer, and a high periwound temperature was positively correlated with wound healing. Infrared thermography can objectively serve as indicators for assessing pressure-ulcer healing.”
Lin YH, et al. Higher Periwound Temperature Associated with Wound Healing of Pressure Ulcers Detected by Infrared Thermography. J Clin Med. 2021;10(13):2883. Published 2021 Jun 29. doi:10.3390/jcm10132883
“These data suggest that skin pigmentation does not affect thermal emissivity measurement of skin temperature using thermal infrared imaging. This study will aid further research into the application of thermal infrared imaging as a screening or bedside diagnostic tool in clinical practice.”
Charlton M, et al. The effect of constitutive pigmentation on the measured emissivity of human skin. PLoS One. 2020;15(11):e0241843. Published 2020 Nov 25. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0241843
“We use the device for a large number of cases and our experiences have been very positive. We can recommend the device for various clients.”
Stefanie Ott
Dominikus-Ringeisen-Werk
The IRT-based model can objectively and accurately detect pressure injuries one day before visual detection.
Jiang et al, 2022. Application of an infrared thermography-based model to detect pressure injuries: a prospective cohort study
A recent study from China included 263 patients who were screened for pressure injuries in the sacral region. The study showed that the ability of infrared thermography to detect pressure injuries was better than that of the other methods used.
A trial run of a Thermidas thermal imaging system was conducted in a Finnish care home in May-June 2024. All the participating workers were positive that thermal imaging will make risk assessment and prevention of pressure ulcers significantly easier.