Institut National D'optique

Timothy Pope

Bruno Tremblay

Francis Picard

Robert Brown

Samuel Ouellet

Methods and systems for detecting container leakage using thermal imaging, for example, infrared imaging, are disclosed. A method may include a step of sensing thermal radiation emanating from a scene encompassing a liquid-holding container. For example, the container may be an intravenous fluid bag. The method may also include a step of generating a thermal image of the scene based on the sensed thermal radiation and a step of analyzing the thermal image by assessing whether the thermal image includes a thermal feature indicative of the presence of leaked liquid outside the container to determine whether a leak exists in the container. In some embodiments, the container may be enclosed in an overwrap. In such a case, the assessed thermal feature may be indicative of liquid being present in an interstitial volume defined between the container and the overwrap.

Container leakage detection using thermal imaging

Fast microbolometer pixels integrating micro-optical focusing elements are provided. Each microbolometer pixel includes a focusing element located between the pixel body and a substrate, this focusing element preferably sending radiation back towards the central portion of the microbolometer. There is also provided a microbolometer array having a plurality of such microbolometer pixels. Advantageously, to increase the pixel speed, the present microbolometers may be built smaller than the detector and no additional structures need to be attached to said detector.

Growing community of inventors

Sillery, Canada

Timothy Pope