You are here

Using an IR Camera to Assess the Effectiveness of Back Treatment

Award Information
Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Branch: National Institutes of Health
Contract: 1R43AT004383-01
Agency Tracking Number: AT004383
Amount: $100,000.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: N/A
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2007
Award Year: 2007
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
6901 EAST FISH LAKE ROAD SUITE #190
MAPLE GROVE, MN 55369
United States
DUNS: 927303412
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 GARY HAVEY
 (763) 463-4814
 GHAVEY@AME-CORP.COM
Business Contact
 TOM HENDRICKSON
Phone: (763) 463-4814
Email: thendrickson@ame-corp.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This phase I SBIR seeks to establish the feasibility of using quantitative thermography to identify the clinical effects of spinal unloading in patients with radicular symptoms. Unloading therapy will be performed in patients with radicular symptoms and associated back pain while concurrently recording using infared (IR) images, surface temperatures and changes in cutaneous blood flow (using Laser Doppler measurements). These tests seek establish the feasibility of using microbolometer based IR imaging to analyze the effectiveness of the unloading therapy. Image processing software will be used to quantifying of regional changes in cutaneous temperature. Spinal unloading will be done using the LTX 3000(tm) Lumbar Rehabilitation System. In phase II, we will complete the development of the system and test the clinical utility of a portable, low-cost quantitative thermography system to be used for serial imaging of a patient receiving spinal unloading therapy. The phase II goal is to apply this approach as a novel and affordable outcome analysis tool. Low back pain is a major socioeconomic problem in the industrialized world. In the United States, it is the second leading cause of worker absenteeism, yet the most expensive in terms of lost productivity. Nearly 80% of all adults experience low back pain at some time in their lives.2 Many people experience their first episode of low back pain in their early twenties, and it becomes more common as a person approaches his/her early sixties.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

US Flag An Official Website of the United States Government