This paper represents a lecture about the life and creative activities of an outstanding scientist: Russian Academician Sergei Ivanovich Vavilov. March 24, 1991 is the centenary of the birth of this prominent scientist.

The principal parameters of the developed high-speed thermal imaging systems and the systems under development for commercial applications are given.

The article describes the actuality of conducting mass prophylactic examination of the population. It is noted that the thermography method is absolutely harmless for patients and service staff. Besides, it is pointed out that the recognition of various types of pathology of medical-biological objects is complicated. With the aim of reaching high certainty of the results of thermographic analysis it is suggested we use the concept of computer-aided thermodiagnostics which is practically based on complete automation and on combination of principles of probability multiparametry and artificial intellect. It is noted that the suggested concept is carried out on the basis of practical utilization of the automated system of dynamic thermography oriented on revealing tumor disease of the mammary gland. The examples are given to show this system functioning.

In this paper brief information concerning thermovision development in Russia for the recent 10 - 15 year period is given. Information is presented about new modifications of thermal cameras: small-sized cooled device and self-contained portable non-cooled device, conjugated with equipment of thermal image digital processing. Prospects for further development of this branch of NDT are shown.

The application of the program DEMOS for design and modeling of IR (infrared) optical systems is considered. The principles of the multiconfigurational optimization for IR and multispectral systems design are worded. The analysis of the kinoform elements application for the systems of this group is given. Besides, the methods of the image quality improvement by means of optical system optimization taking into account the surface errors are described. The examples of IR systems design are presented.

In this paper questions of mass-using thermal imager creation are considered. The thermal imager experimental model, developed in S.I. Vavilov State Optical Institute, variable and continuous magnification afocal caps, system of conjugation of optical head with computer of IBM PC/AT are described. Thermal imager optical circuit and base technical characteristics are presented.

The general conception of creating of the Computer Imitative Simulator of the Thermal Imager System (CIS TIS) is presented. The description of the CIS of the TIS using SPRITE detectors is given in the article.

The scanning device for the remote temperature measurement and control of extended objects is described. The specifications of the device are also presented.

Two diagrams of scanning systems for thermal imager apparatus are described. The equations of scanning law and calculation results of raster distortions are also presented, and the prospects of scanning system usage in new developments are shown.

The present paper deals with the description of a module for recording and inputting the information from a thermo-vision system to a computer of the type of IBM PC, DVK. The thermo-vision system functionality is significantly widened due to programmed assignment of record modes when the rapidly and slowly varying thermal processes are studied.

The given paper reviews the development of a thermal source intended for thermal field generation during thermo-viewer laboratory tests. Operating principle and function circuit are described. The basic engineering data and test results are given. To provide high accuracy of measurements and control flexibility a precision temperature difference controller is included in the thermal source. For receiving a thermal field with inverted image contracts a water- cooled device is used.

The application of thermal imagers is described and an attempt to classify solvable problems in extraordinary situations is made. Experimental investigations on refining requirements for thermal imager characteristics with reference to solvable problems are carried out. Using the obtained investigation results, a pyrovidicon-based thermal imager is developed and its applications are defined.

The paper shows our studies of the possibilities of the thermo-vision, millimeter, and centimeter radiothermometry in the diagnostics of the temperature anomalies of the focal neurosurgery pathology, and shows the prospects of using the polyrange thermal location for diagnostics, choosing the tactics of treatment, and optimization of prognosis in various cases of neurosurgical pathology.

The role of thermography in screening, directed to diagnose breast diseases, chronic tonsillitis, neurocirculatory dystonia, gall bladder dyskinesia, sinusitis, and to detect the character of influence of harmful factors on workers organisms is studied. The investigations demonstrate a possibility of a successful utilization of thermography in mass prophylactive examinations in order to diagnose these diseases, but the problem of breast tumors diagnostics demands the following investigations.

The paper describes the results of twenty-years of experience in applying thermography (thermal imaging) in routine and urgent neurology, based on the study of more than ten thousand patients. Stress is laid on the fact that thermography is of great significance for diagnosing dextrocerebral hemorrhagic insult with a manifestation of pronounced hemihypothermia in the paralyzed limbs, identifying paraorbital hyperthermia on the side of rhinogenous cerebral abscess, for instrumental registration of transitory heat-up of the nasolabial region in the case of patients suffering from hypertensive nasal bleeding. Much attention is given to diagnosis of intra- and extracerebral phlebopathy in urgent neurology -- early diagnosis of iatrogenic catheterization phlebitis, interference with the venous return in the paralyzed lower limb. The novelty here is the employment of telethermography for complex diagnosis of cerebral death.

The present study attempts to make use of the pattern of infra-red radiation from the skin surface, indirectly visualizing the brain heat production as a control means of the anesthesiologic aid for different variants of the total intravenous anesthesia when operating on the brain.

On the basis of thermal imaging examinations of 2000 patients suffering lumbar osteochondrosis of the vertebral region, and using their methods, the authors describe the specifics of the thermal images of the lumbar region and the lower extremities in various clinical manifestations of the reflex and radicular syndromes.

One-hundred-sixty patients were examined with operated sinuses. The thermographic picture was found to be changing in the remission period from normal to hypothermic. In cases with exacerbations the hyperthermic picture was registered. Thermography was helpful in differentiating the origin of prosopalgia.

Temperature dynamics of the hands of human subjects was investigated by means of dynamical thermography and shown to depend on the personality and psychological conditions of the subjects. For neurotic personalities, especially under stress, the temperature is shown not to change at all in most cases. Stress resistant `independent' persons show very stable dynamics with relatively small temperature changes (about 2 degrees). The dependence of temperature patterns of `intermediate,' or `active,' personalities on the conditions of stress, mental concentration, and so on, is discussed.

The bibliography of soviet and foreign periodial on the probles of thermovi— sion in medicine has been published by our institute two times: in 1972 — bibliography covered the materials published during the period from 1956 to the end of 1971 included 576 bibliographic descriptions of the primary sources of the information; in 1982 — the bibliography covered a publication period from 1971 to 1981 included 1152 bibliographic descrip— ti ons.