Transillumination is used in medical practice to look for disease. It is the shinning of a light through an organ or region of the body to look for abnormalities. I am a urologist and use it to look for diseases of the scrotum (testis tumor, hydrocele, spermatocele). Sorry no pictures! It can be used to examine the sinuses (sinusitis), teeth (caries, fractures), breasts (masses), chest (pneumothorax), infant abdomen (masses, hydronephrosis), finger (cysts, masses, subungual hematoma), skin (splinter removal).
Non-medical applications: distinguish raw eggs from hard boiled, check fluid levels of translucent containers (e.g. auto), makeshift lantern with glass of half milk/half water over a light on a flat surface (or light in the glass if waterproof), read letters through envelopes, preserve night vision by placing thumb over a light (makes dim, reddish light), entertain children by transilluminating fingers, hands, ears, nose, etc.
Please enjoy the pictures. Disclaimers: if you're sick, see a doc, don't diagnose yourself. Don't burn yourself. Thank you to my wife for letting me transilluminate her frontal sinus, to Emma, my 5 year old daughter for holding still, and to Bella my 4 year old daughter for being a goof ball! And thank you to Vinh for the D25Cvn which is my favorite EDC light.
Wife's frontal sinus (she'll be so mad that I took this on a bad hair day):
With mood lighting (romantic I know):
Emma's maxillary sinus (transilluminated from orbit to mouth):
Bella's ear:
Emma's hand:
My finger (notice the dorsal venous arch):
Isaac Newton said the thumb alone would convince him of the existence of God (and that was without an EagleTac D25Cvn!):
A few non-medical applications:
raw egg left, hard boiled right:
You sealed an envelope and can't remember what is in it:
Thanks for reading. Please add your own ideas and pictures of things you can transilluminate.
Non-medical applications: distinguish raw eggs from hard boiled, check fluid levels of translucent containers (e.g. auto), makeshift lantern with glass of half milk/half water over a light on a flat surface (or light in the glass if waterproof), read letters through envelopes, preserve night vision by placing thumb over a light (makes dim, reddish light), entertain children by transilluminating fingers, hands, ears, nose, etc.
Please enjoy the pictures. Disclaimers: if you're sick, see a doc, don't diagnose yourself. Don't burn yourself. Thank you to my wife for letting me transilluminate her frontal sinus, to Emma, my 5 year old daughter for holding still, and to Bella my 4 year old daughter for being a goof ball! And thank you to Vinh for the D25Cvn which is my favorite EDC light.
Wife's frontal sinus (she'll be so mad that I took this on a bad hair day):
With mood lighting (romantic I know):
Emma's maxillary sinus (transilluminated from orbit to mouth):
Bella's ear:
Emma's hand:
My finger (notice the dorsal venous arch):
Isaac Newton said the thumb alone would convince him of the existence of God (and that was without an EagleTac D25Cvn!):
A few non-medical applications:
raw egg left, hard boiled right:
You sealed an envelope and can't remember what is in it:
Thanks for reading. Please add your own ideas and pictures of things you can transilluminate.