[jocaal]

This will probably never get the image quality of either of those. The image quality you get is proportional to the density of the detecting elements. These types of infrared methods usually have to touch the skin, so you would need a flexible array of detectors and your not going to get the same quality with that.

[ars]

You could solve that by scanning across the skin, and immersing the side of the head and the detector in some kind of fluid that helps light transmission (avoids reflections on the skin), so you don't actually have to touch the skin.

[metalman]

inserting a medical light bulb in the pattients mouth will decrease the distance the light has to travel, and presumably it could be a high intensity "flash" tuned to conditions with very precisely known timing

[mpreda]

In the nose as well.

[saltcured]

Suddenly, the idea of aliens sticking probes into various orifices takes on a new light...