gms | German Medical Science

Figure

Figure 7: Irradiation of a venous stasis ulcer of the lower leg with a wIRA radiator

The period of irradiation was 30 minutes. The infrared (IR) thermogram was taken about half way through the treatment (as indicated by the vertical line in the lower panel; orientation of thermogram: lower foot to the left, heel at the bottom, distal part of the lower leg in the right upper corner.) In the thermogram the position of 6 temperature measuring sites is shown (4 circles and 2 spots: spot 1 was located in the centre of the ulcer and spot 2 was located on the bed-sheets beside the foot). The temperature time course of the highest temperature within each circle and the two spots are presented in the lower panel. The respective colours of the temperature curves in the lower panel refer to the different measuring sites (SP = spot; AR = circle) as shown in the infrared thermogram. The centre of the ulcer presented the lowest “maximum temperature” of all 6 measuring sites, the bed-sheets presented the highest “maximum temperature” of all 6 measuring sites. (Concerning all patients typical skin temperatures during irradiation were 37–39°C, on the ulcer base even below 37°C.) The 30-minute heating period commenced 1 min after time point 0 and ended at the end of minute 31 as can be seen from the temperature traces in the lower panel.

A corresponding thermographic video sequence of a 30-minute treatment period of this leg ulcer is presented in Attch. 12 (orientation of images of the video sequence: lower foot to the left, heel at the bottom, distal part of the lower leg in the right upper corner. The circular cool area in the right upper corner is from a circular knob mounted on the end of the distance rod of the radiator. Note that in the thermographic video sequence the highest recorded temperature is on the bed-sheets and not on the ulcer or any part of the skin).