AN1H1 again?

Measuring Body Temperature from a Distance to Prevent Spreading of AN1H1 (“Swine Flue”)

Xenics, leading developer of innovative infrared detection solutions for a wide range of applications headquartered in Europe, presents a secure and non-invasive countermeasure to the uncontrolled spreading of the respiratory disease, sometimes called swine flue, caused by the potentially pandemic virus AN1H1. Easily installed and operated at airports and border stations, Xenics offers the new Raven, an uncooled microbolometer infrared camera, which measures, from a safe distance and in real time, crucial differences in body temperature at an accuracy of up to 0.2°C – pinpointing any suspicious fevers in passing travelers.

The Raven-384 is an infrared imaging camera, specially designed for the demanding security market. The thermal image is crisp and clear, even under difficult weather conditions and in complete darkness without the use of additional illumination. To meet the needs of the professional security community the Raven-384 can be configured with various lenses for short-range, medium-range and longrange observation. The camera interface can be PAL/NTSC video for a regular CCTV security network or optional Ethernet for a digital LAN. Standard delivery includes a common power supply and connecting cables. The integration and use of these infrared cameras are so easy, that no operator training is required.

With this IR camera solution for simple, reliable and stable operation in public places such as airports, bus, railway and metro stations, they are opening up an urgently sought and practical way to detect, at an early stage, dangerous viral diseases indicated by fever. As a diagnostic tool the Xenics Raven captures and displays on a PC screen linked via a simple Ethernet connection a high-definition infrared image at a high frame rate of 50Hz.

Temperature differences as small as 0.2°C can be detected, at a measuring sensitivity of 0.05°C. By using the reference method, putting a precisely controlled temperature reference in the field of view, Xenics eliminates the stability problem that microbolometer cameras usually have to cope with, thereby providing a stable and reliable screening. The high-definition image permits accurate fever detection in both individuals and crowds.

Generally, the measurement of body temperature from a distance is carried out with an infrared camera that detects the heat emitted from the human skin producing a temperature map like a camera in the visual realm recording a life scene. The result is a colour image whose various colour contours represent temperature gradients. Temperatures above a certain preset level can be highlighted.

Enabling reliable measurements, the unit requires only minimal set up and examination time. The Raven can be flexibly operated on a tripod or installed for permanent use. The company recommends the body temperature to be checked at the corner of an individual’s eye, where the temperature approaches the core body temperature. The examination takes no longer than a fraction of a second. Setup of the Raven is very simple. It requires minimum operator training of less than one hour before being fully operational.

Even a systematic, collected crowd screening is feasible via the Raven’s high-definition image. Automatic alerts can be triggered by adjustable thresholds preferably set at 1°C above average temperature, with visual and/or audible alarms. Operation of the Raven is discrete -at a 50Hz frame rate, there is no hampering of pedestrian flow. The Raven provides accurate and stable temperature measurement via precisely controlled black-body reference.

“We are broadening our product portfolio as well as our strategic presence in the world markets, changing from a mainly technology-driven to a fully market-driven approach,” says Xenics founder and CEO Bob Grietens. “In addition to our fast growing business in advanced InGaAs SWIR imagers we are entering the markets for uncooled bolometer solutions based on our application oriented R&D portfolio.”

See also our item on Swine Flu posted 5th May 2009.