Thermal Image Bruise Detection
Jaturapatr Varith, Gary M. Hyde, A. L. Baritelle, John K. Fellman, T. Sattabongkot · 2001 Sacramento, CA July 29-August 1,2001 · 2001
Thermal imaging is a non-destructive and non-contact infrared sensing technique, whichcreates a bit-map called a thermogram by detecting infrared radiation emitted from an object. Up to 100%of apple bruises were detected using thermal imaging during warming of the fruit, due to differences inthermal diffusivity and between bruised and sound tissue. Apples were bruised by dropping them from0.46 m on a smooth concrete floor and then were held at 26C and 50% RH for 48 hours. They were thenthermally imaged using a ThermaCamPM390 (FLIR Systems, Inc., Portland, OR) during heating andcooling treatements. Thermal images of bruised tissue showed at least 1-2C difference from soundtissue within 30-180 s. Thermal imaging did not detect bruises under steady-state temperature conditions,indicating that detection was not due to differences in thermal emissivity. The technique could provide abasis for automatic bruise sorting, and possibly a better understanding of bruised tissue.