Thermographic apparatus for measuring the temperature distribution in a substantially dielectric medium.

摘要

A thermographic apparatus is provided for measuring the temperature distribution in a substantially dielectric medium by detecting the microwave energy emerging from the medium. The apparatus is particularly useful for detecting carcinomas of the human body. The apparatus comprises an array of microwave antennas positioned adjacent the patient's body and electronic means for processing the broad band signals induced in the microwave antennas to determine the temperature prevailing in adjacent volume elements of the patient's body. The electronic means is laid out to process the signals induced in each of the antennas and to correlate each signal with the signal from one of the antennas in a fixed reference location. The correlation produces first and second values containing information relating to the amplitude and phase of the signal received in the or each detecting position of that antenna relative to the amplitude and phase of the signal received by the reference antenna. A computer is used to carry out an inverse transformation of the relative amplitude and phase signals from all the antennas to produce a matrix of temperature values relating to adjacent volumes of the patient's body.