Case: University of Technology, Luleå

The measurement method "The Method of Linné"  has been used in two case studies carried out by a doctoral student in order to evaluate the skin temperature of the hands with thermography in combination with a cold-stress test (mild cold provocation) in order to understand what the right skin temperature is for "healthy" individuals and individuals with white fingers (eg Raynaud's Syndrome, vibration injuries). The method is to map circulatory disorders in different disease groups. This can then be used to bring forward diagnosis and treatment. Furthermore, the method can be used in the pharmaceutical industry to map side effects and effects on the peripheral circulation of various drugs.

A more detailed mapping of occupational injuries / accidents (eg vibration injuries) is made possible by this method as well as the determination of any differences between men and women. The measurements will provide answers to four questions:

1. Evaluate the variability of responses to cold stress tests
2. Examine specific heating patterns after cold stress testing
3. Compare how the skin temperatures of the palm and the back of the hand respond to cold stress tests
4. Evaluate temperature response to cold stress tests as discrimination between individuals with or without white fingers

A total of three case studies were conducted. In the first case study in the spring of 2012, a total of 66 measurements were performed on 34 healthy male students and in the second case study in the spring of 2013, 55 measurements were performed on 35 healthy male students.

In the first case study, two measurements were performed per individual with a few exceptions. In the second case study, 1 to 4 measurements were performed per individual.

The result showed relatively low variability, ie. the individuals generally showed the same heat pattern during repeated measurement. There are also two clear groupings "warm hand", ie the skin regains temperature as before the cold stress test and "cold hand", respectively, the skin recovers no more than marginally after the cold stress test. It was also found that the left hand tends to be colder than the right hand.