Current Projects

1. Is IR Imaging for Detecting of High Body Temperature Full-proof?

A typical high fever (mean aural: 39.2⁰C) subject.

Related publications:
Ng, E. Y-K, “Is Thermal Scanner Losing its Bite in Mass Screening of Fever due to SARS?^#”, Medical Physics*, American Association of Physicists in Medicine (2005), Vol. 32, No: 1, Pp. 93--97.

*This is a high impact factor journal. ^#This paper has also been further selected for the January 1, 2005 issue of Virtual Journal of Biological Physics Research (under “Instrumentation Development”). The journal is published by the American Physical Society and the American Institute of Physics in cooperation with numerous other societies and publishers, is an edited compilation of links to articles from participating publishers, covering a focused area of frontier research. You can access the Virtual Journal at http://www.vjbio.org.

Ong, M.L. and Ng, E. Y-K, “A Global Bioheat Model with Self-tuning Optimal Regulation of Body Temperature using Hebbian Feedback Covariance Learning^#”, Medical Physics, American Association of Physicists in Medicine (2005), Vol. 32, No: 12, Pp. 3819--3831.

^#This paper has been further selected for the Dec. 1, 2005 issue of Virtual Journal of Biological Physics Research (under “Information Transfer in Biological Systems”). The journal is published by the American Physical Society and the American Institute of Physics in cooperation with numerous other societies and publishers, is an edited compilation of links to articles from participating publishers, covering a focused area of frontier research. You can access the Virtual Journal at http://www.vjbio.org.

Ng, E. Y-K., Kaw, G.J.L, and Chang, W.M., “Analysis of IR Thermal Imager for Mass Blind Fever Screening”, Microvascular Research, Reed Elsevier Science, Academic Press, USA. (2004), 68(2):104-109.

Ng, E. Y-K., Wiryani M. and Wong B.S., “Study of Facial Skin and Aural Temperature using IR with and w/o TRS”, IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Magazine, IEEE, USA. Vol. 25, No: 3, USA. (2006), Pp. 68--74.

Ng, E. Y-K. and Kaw, G.J.L “IR Scanners as Fever Monitoring Devices: Physics, Physiology and Clinical Accuracy”, Chapter 24, Biomedical Engineering Handbook, Medical Devices and Systems, CRC Press, ISBN:0-8493-2122-0, FL, USA, Editor: Nicholas Diakides, Pp. 24-1 to 24-20. (2006).

Ng, E. Y-K. and Kee E.C., “Fever Mass Screening Tool for Infectious Diseases Outbreak: Integrated artificial intelligence with bio-statistical approach in thermogram analysis”, Medical Infrared Imaging, Biomedical Engineering Handbook, Spin-off Edition, ISBN-0-8493-9027-3, CRC Press, FL, USA, Editor: Nicholas Diakides and Joseph D. Bronzino, Chp. 16, pp. 16-1 to 16-19. (Jun. 2007)

Ng, E. Y-K. “A non-contact infrared indoor scanning of mass blind febrile subjects in controlling an epidemic: a review”, Avian Influenza Research Progress, Nova Science Publishers, Inc., NY, USA, Editor: Ernesto P. Allegra and Dr. Frank Columbus, Pp. 1 to 32. ISBN: 1-60021-617-X (to appear in Dec. 2008) https://www.novapublishers.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=5567

Ng, E. Y-K. and Kee E.C. “Study of Diagnostic Accuracy for Mass Fever Detection with Comprehensive AI & Bio-statistical Analysis”, Avian Influenza Research Progress, Nova Science Publishers, Inc., NY, USA, Editor: Ernesto P. Allegra and Dr. Frank Columbus, Pp. 1 to 24. ISBN: 1-60021-617-X (to appear in Dec. 2008) https://www.novapublishers.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=5567

Ng, E. Y-K., National conference and exhibition on “Thermal Imagers for Fever Screening - Selection, Usage and Testing”, (invited speaker), 30th May 2003, Sheraton Towers, Singapore. Cited as Standards Technical Reference for “Thermal Imagers for Human Temperature Screening Part 1: Requirements and Test Methods; Part 2: User Guides”, TR 15-1: 2003, Spring Singapore. ISBN 9971-67-963-9.

Ng, E. Y-K and Chong, C., “ANN based Mapping of Febrile Subjects in Mass Thermogram Screening: Facts and Myths”, International Journal of Medical Engineering & Technology, Taylor & Francis, U.K., Vol. 30, No. 5, pp 330 - 337. (2006)

Ng, E. Y-K, Chong, C. and Kaw, G.J.L, “Classification of Human Facial and Aural Temperature using Neural Networks and IR Fever Scanner: a responsible second look”, Journal of Mechanics in Medicine and Biology, Vol. 5, No: 1, World Scientific, (2005), Pp. 165 -- 190.

Ng, E. Y-K., Kaw, G. and Ng, K. "Evaluation of Infrared (IR) Method in Mass Blind Scanning of Potential SARS Patients", Proceedings of the 15th International  Symposium on Transport Phenomena in Thermal-Fluids Engineering, Bangkok, Thailand, 9-13, May (2004), 343 -- 348.

Ng, E. Y-K., Kaw, G. and Ng, K. “Infrared thermography in identification of human elevated temperature with Biostatistical and ROC analysis”, The International Society for Optical Engineering -- ThermoSense XXVI – Symposium on Defense and Security, 12-16 April 2004 at Orlando - Florida - USA. 88 -- 97.

2.  Intelligent Diagnostic System for Breast Tumour by Thermography

What: Whether from a breast tumour or a skin malignancy, cancer cells invade the body by infiltrating blood vessels to transport themselves to healthy tissue and organs. The immune system destroys cancer cells that stay in the blood for too long. So to survive and spread, cancer cells need to break through the vessel walls and escape from the bloodstream if they are to accomplish their deadly mission.

 Preamble: Breast cancer (hence, pain) [3] is the most common cancer in Singapore women (Singapore Breast Cancer Foundation Web-site.). Research elsewhere has shown that with regular screening, breast cancer can be detected early although it has an indefinite pre-cancerous stage. The early detection techniques include mammography, ultra-sound scan and self- and clinical-breast examination. A mammogram is an X-ray from which the breast tumour can be diagnosed and it is not a perfect tool. The current research work on breast cancer diagnostic tools are digital and computer-assisted mammography, magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission thermography scanning. The latter two are too expensive. The former is an area of excitement and it holds promise in a significant breakthrough in early detection. The interpretation and analysis of X-ray film can be done by artificial intelligence of which it is currently done visually by the radiologist. To-date, a preliminary piece of research work on numerical and experimental correlation of breast surface temperature has been published. The experimental data were obtained using infrared thermography. There is definitely promise in extensively extending this work with the aim of developing an early breast cancer system with knowledge-based intelligence so as to improve the accuracy and cost. It should have the ability to differentiate benign from malignant breast masses as well the age and size cancerous growth. This is to ensure that those with abnormal temperature distribution profiles can go for early treatment.

· Aim: This project's primary objective is to develop a comprehensive clinical procedure based on thermography for the detection of tumour in breast. Thermography can detect the presence of tumour much earlier and of much smaller in size than mammography. It is non-invasive and is very much less expensive.
Thermography could also be used for rheumatology, dermatology (leg isotherms), and orthopaedics. The ultimate aim is to develop a personal, portable and very affordable tool based on subtraction thermography to complement self-examination of breast for eventual commercialisation.

Hitherto, a direct numerical model of a two-dimensional model of a breast is in place. The breast is modeled close to actual (selected in AMTEC Engg. Inc. Tecplot web site) by considering varying various bio-materials with different thickness, heat transfer and blood perfusion properties. The thermal contours of a normal and a malignant one are investigated. For the latter, the tumour is embedded with much higher perfusion rate.The effect of surface temperature distribution of the breast owing to varying blood perfusion for tumors of various size and location are also being investigated (see Simulation) and 7 papers have been published in the peers reviewed conf. or journals such as ASME Bio-Conf. and Int. Journal of Computer Methods in Biomechanics & Biomedical Engineering [1 & 6]. A three-dimensional model has also been developed and evaluated (see Figs. on breast).

Now: A model that is closer to the actual breast of size 34 cup 'C' has recently been developed.

In brief, we can look for an increment in the isotherm level pattern of patients, in the direct numerical simulation, we can already see signs that we can detect higher levels correlated with the progression of the disease.

What next? Plan is in place to obtain field data pertaining to a certain age group for both normal and tumoured breasts. A data bank of surface isotherm contours will be created and compared with the direct prediction. Now, the question is, based on these data, and using AI or whatever computing means (e.g. reverse engineering / interpolation / extrapolation etc.), could the existence of tumour be predicted with such an expert system?. i.e. Could we treat experimental data with bio-statistical methods such as T-test and ANOVA etc. or based on the different field data of normal and tumoured breasts, could we predict the existence of tumour accurately though a significance' test may be used to distinguish the normal from tumoured breasts? The first phase of the work has been sucessfully completed. The answers to all the above are positive.

Team members: Dr. Sudharsan, N.M., A/P Eddie Ng and A/P Fok SC (University of Southern Queensland, Australia)

Clinical Collaborator: Drs. Ng Fook Cheong and Sim S.J., Senior Consultant Radiologists, Singapore General Hospital, Department of Diagnostic Radiology.

List of Related Publications:

[1] Sudharsan, N.M., Ng, E. Y-K. and Teh S.L. "Surface Temperature Distribution of a
      Breast with/without Tumor", International Journal of Computer Methods in Biomechanics
      and Biomedical Engineering, Vol. 2, Gordon And Breach Science Publishers, USA
      (1999), Pp. 187 -- 199.

[2] Sudharsan, N.M., Ng, E. Y-K. and Teh S.L. "Direct Simulation of Breast Abnormality",
ASME Summer Bioengineering Conference in Big Sky Montana, USA, June 16-20, BED-42,
     Pp. 397 - 398 (1999).

[3]  Ng, E. Y-K. and Sudharsan, N.M "Bench Marking the Bioheat Equation for Finite Element Analysis",
Book Chapter on Computer Methods in Biomechanics & Biomedical Engineering - 3, Ed.
        Middleton J. et al., Pp. 231 - 236, Gordon and Breach Science Publishers, (2001).

[4] Sudharsan, N.M. and Ng, E. Y-K. "Parametric Optimisation for Tumour Identification:
Bioheat Equation using ANOVA & Taguchi Method", International Journal of Engineering
      in Medicine, Proceedings of the IMechE, Part H, Vol. 214,  No. 5, Professional Engineering
      Publishing, UK, (2000),  Pp. 505 -- 512.

 [5] Sudharsan, N.M., Ng, E. Y-K. and Fok S.C. "Tumor Orientation and its Effect on
       Surface Isotherm Pattern", Proceedings of ICMMB-11: International Conference on
Mechanics in Medicine and Biology, April 2-5, 2000 / Maui, Hawaii, USA, Pp. 273 -
       276, (2000).

[6] Chen, Y. Ng, E. Y-K., Ung LN and Ng F.C. "Patterns and Cyclic Variations of
Thermography in Female Breasts", Proceedings of ICMMB-11: International Conference
on Mechanics in Medicine and Biology, April 2-5, 2000 / Maui, Hawaii, USA, Pp. 343 -
     346, (2000).

[7] Ng, E. Y-K. and Sudharsan, N.M. "Can Numerical Simulation Adjunct to Thermography be an Early Detection Tool?", Journal of Thermology International (formerly European Journal of Medical Thermology), Vol. 10 , No: 3 , Austria, (2000), (ISSN 1560-604X), Pp. 119 -- 127. (invited paper)

[8] Ung LN, Ng, E. Y-K., Chen, Y., and Ng F.C. "Neural Network Detection of Breast Cancer from Thermal Images." 5th International Symposium on the Impact of Biotechnology on Cancer Diagnostic and Prognostic Indicators, Geneva, Switzerland, October 28 - 31, 2000.

[9] Ng, E. Y-K. and Sudharsan, N.M. "An Improved 3-D Direct Numerical Modelling and Thermal Analysis of a Female Breast with Tumour", International Journal of Engineering in Medicine, Proceedings of the IMechE, Part H, Vol. 215, No. 1, Professional Engineering Publishing, UK, (2001),  Pp. 25 -- 37.

[10] Ng, E. Y-K. and Sudharsan, N.M. "EFFECT OF BLOOD FLOW, TUMOUR AND COLD STRESS IN A FEMALE BREAST: A Novel Time-accurate Computer Simulation", International Journal of Engineering in Medicine, Proceedings of the IMechE, Part H, Vol. 215,  No. H4, Professional Engineering Publishing, UK, (2001),  Pp. 393 -- 404.

[11]  Chen Y., Ng, E. Y. K and Ung L.N., "Edge Detection of Female Breast Thermograms", Proceedings of  the IASTED International Conference on Computer Graphics and Imaging, ACTA Press, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA,  (Nov. 2000). Pp. 277 - 282.

[12]  Ng, E. Y. K, Chen Y., Ung LN, Fok SK and Wan, I.S.Y. "Thermography as an Indicator of Breast Blood Perfusion", Proceedings of 10th International Conference on BioMedical Engineering, December, 6-9, Singapore, Pp. 275-276 (2000). [Reported in The Straits Times, Tech & Science dated 9 Dec. 2000, P4]

[13] Chen Y., Ng, E. Y. K, Ung L.N., "Analysis of the Breast Thermograms in Asian Females", Proceedings of 10th International Conference on BioMedical Engineering, December, 6-9, Singapore, Pp. 271-272 (2000). [Reported in The Straits Times, Tech & Science dated 9 Dec. 2000, P4]

[14] Ng, E.Y-K. and Sudharsan, N.M. "Re-warming from Cold Stress in a Female Breast: A Novel Numerical Prediction of Vasomotor Behaviour", Proceedings of 10th International Conference on BioMedical Engineering, December, 6-9, Singapore, Pp. 273-274 (2000). [Reported in The Straits Times, Tech & Science dated 9 Dec. 2000, P4]

[15] Ng, E. Y-K., Chen Y. and Ung L.N. "COMPUTERIZED BREAST THERMOGRAPHY: Study of Image Segmentation and Temperature Cyclic Variations", International Journal of  Medical Engineering & Technology, Vol. 25, No: 1, Taylor & Francis, U.K., (2001), Pp. 12 -- 16.

[16] 'Cut off my breast, I don't need the risks', THE STRAITS TIMES: Wed. Feb. 24, 1999, pp.16. Also, Singapore Breast Cancer Foundation Web-site.

[17] Ng, E. Y-K. and Sudharsan, N.M. "Numerical Computation as a Tool to Aid Thermographic Interpretation", International Journal of  Medical Engineering & Technology, Vol. 25, No: 2, Taylor & Francis, U.K., (2001), Pp. 53 -- 60.

[18] Ng, E. Y-K. and Sudharsan, N.M "NUMERICAL UNCERTAINITY AND PERFUSION INDUCED INSTABILITY IN BIOHEAT EQUATION: Its Importance in Thermographic Interpretation", International Journal of Medical Engineering & Technology, Vol. 25, No: 5, Taylor & Francis, U.K., (2001), Pp. 222 -- 229.

[19] Ng, E. Y-K., and Fok, S.C. “A Framework for Early Discovery of Breast Tumor using Thermography with Artificial Neural Network”, The Breast Journal, Vol. 9, No: 4, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Jul-Aug (2003), Pp. 341 -- 343.

[20] Ng, E. Y-K., Chiok Y.H. and Heng, S.H. “The Credibility of the Breast Cancer Risk Assessment (BCRA) Tool for Asians”, International Journal of Medical Engineering & Technology, Vol. 26, No: 5, Taylor & Francis, U.K., (2002), Pp. 185 -- 192.

[21] Ng, E. Y-K.,  Ung L.N., Ng F.C. and  Sim L.S.J. "Statistical Analysis of Healthy and Malignant Breast Thermography", International Journal of Medical Engineering & Technology, Vol. 25, No: 6, Taylor & Francis, U.K., (2002), Pp. 253 -- 263.

[22] Ng, E. Y-K., Fok S.C., Peh Y.C., Ng, F.C. and Sim, L.S.J., "Computerized Detection of Breast Cancer with Artificial Intelligence and Thermograms”, International Journal of Medical Engineering & Technology, Vol. 26, No: 4, Taylor & Francis, U.K., (2002), Pp. 152 -- 157.

[23] Ng, E. Y-K., Peh Y.C., Fok S.C., Ng, F.C. and Sim, L.S.J., "Early Diagnosis of Breast Cancer using Artificial Neural Network with Thermal Images", Proceedings of the BIOMED2002 International Conference on Biomedical Engineering, Pp. 62-65, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 5 – 8 June 2002.

[24] Ng, E. Y-K., Cai Y.Y., Tai K. and Heng S.H. "Evaluation Studies of Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool for Chinese Women", Proceedings of the BIOMED2002 International Conference on Biomedical Engineering, Pp. 23-26, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 5 – 8 June 2002.

[25] Fok, S.C., Ng, E. Y-K. and Tai, K. "Early Detection and Visualization of Breast Tumor with Thermogram and Neural Network", Journal of Mechanics in Medicine and Biology, Vol. 2, No: 2, World Scientific, (2002), Pp. 185 -- 196.

[26] Fok, S.C., Ng, E. Y-K. and Thimm, G.L. “Developing Case-based Reasoning for Discovery of Breast Cancer”, Journal of Mechanics in Medicine and Biology, Vol. 3, No: 3/4, World Scientific, (2003), Pp. 231 -- 246.

[27] Ng, E. Y-K., Fok, S.C. and Goh, C.T. "Case Studies of Laser Doppler Imaging System for Clinical Diagnosis Applications and Management”, International Journal of Medical Engineering & Technology, Vol. 27, No: 5, Taylor & Francis, U.K., (2003), Pp. 200 -- 206.

[28] Ng, E. Y-K., and Fok, S.C. “Laser Doppler Perfusion Imaging for the Study of Alternative Medicine”, International Journal of Computer Applications in Technology, Guest Editor: EYK Ng & E.C. Teo, Special Issues in Biomedical Engineering and IT, Vol. 21, No. 1/2, Inderscience, (2004), Pp. 65 -- 71.

[29] Ng EYK, Sudharsan NM. 2004. Numerical Modelling in Conjunction with Thermography as an Adjunct Tool for Breast Tumour Detection, BMC Cancer, Medline Journal, 4(17):1-26.

[30] Jiang, L.J., Ng, E. Y-K, Yau, W.Y., Wu, S., Jiang, X.D., Yeo, A.C.B. “A Perspective on Medical IR Imaging”, International Journal of Medical Engineering & Technology, Vol. , No: , Taylor & Francis, U.K., (2005), Vol. 29, No. 6, pp 257 - 267.

[31] Ng, E. Y-K, Tan, M.S., Lockwood, S., and Keith, L.G., “ANN based Classification of Breast Cancer with Discrete Temperature Screening: Facts and Myths”, Part-IV, Emerging Technologies in Breast Imaging and Mammography, American Scientific Publishers, USA/Canada, Editors: Profs. Jasjit S. Suri, R. Rangayyan, and S. Laxminarayan, Chp. 21, ISBN: 1-58883-090-X, Pp. 1 to 20. (Mar. 2007, http://www.aspbs.com/bim.htm)

[32] Ng, E. Y-K. “Improved Sensitivity and Specificity of Breast Cancer Thermography”, Cancer Imaging, Elsevier, USA, Editor: Prof. Dr. M.A. Hayat, ISBN: 0-12-370468-5/ 978-0-12-370468-9, Chapter 4.15, Pp. 439 to 448. (Mar. 2007)

[33] Ng, E. Y-K., R Acharya U, Keith, L.G., and Lockwood, S., “Detection and Classification of Breast Cancer using Neural Classifiers with First Warning Thermal Sensors”, Information Sciences, Vol. 177, No. 20, Elsevier, (July 2007), Pp. 4526--4538. DOI: 10.1016/j.ins.2007.03.027

Useful Links for Breast Cancer Researchers

• http://cancerTrials.nci.nih.gov: USA Cancer Trials, National Cancer Institute
• http://www.breastcanceronline.com/breast_cancer_resource_guide.htm: Breast Cancer Resources
• http://www.thermography.org/itshome.html: International Thermographic Society
• http://www.meditherm.com/: medical THERMOGRAPHY
• http://bca.ns.ca/index.htm: Canada Breast Cancer Action
• <http://www.healthanswers.com/adam/top/view.asp?filename=003410.htm&rdir#: HealthQuick_Library
• http://www.bcf.org.sg/index.html: Singapore Breast Cancer Foundation
• http://www.wings.adelaide.edu.au/ Emotional Support
• http://searchphp.silverplatter.com/physicians/digest/abstract/abst300.htm: Other Related Thermography