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Camera-Based Monitoring of Vital Signs Improved

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Refined signal processing allows video cameras to monitor vital signs regardless of ambient lighting and the subject’s skin color.

A new algorithm developed by researchers at Rice University detects subtle variations in skin tone caused by blood circulation to determine pulse and breathing rates.

The idea of using a camera to track vital signs is based on photoplethysmography (PPG), a way to measure physiological processes under the skin by monitoring subtle changes at the skin’s surface. Camera-based PPG has been studied previously, but its applications were limited because it did not work reliably unless subjects were fair skinned and sitting perfectly still in a well-lit room.

PPG

The PPG signal is extracted from four regions marked on the face. A weighted average of the four readings compares well with a reading from a pulse oximeter. Courtesy of The Optical Society.


The Rice algorithm, called DistancePPG, overcomes these problems by measuring the eyes, nose and mouth separately. A weighted average, based on blood perfusion and incident light intensity, is applied to the data to estimate vital signs.

“Interestingly, this technique has been known in other domains of computer vision, but has not been properly applied to the problem at hand,” said graduate student Mayank Kumar. “Once we understood the motion challenge, the tracking approach became obvious.”

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To test their new algorithm, the researchers monitored adults engaging in common activities. Results were compared to readings from pulse oximeters attached to subjects’ earlobes.

The algorithm improved the PPG signal in situations with low levels of motion, such as when subjects were reading or watching a video. However, it remained relatively inaccurate when subjects were talking or smiling. These larger movements changed the facial light reflectance more dramatically and made extracting a reliable signal difficult, the researchers said.

Noncontact methods for monitoring vital signs are especially desirable in neonatal intensive care units, where repeatedly attaching and removing monitors can injure premature babies and leave them susceptible to infection.

If the motion problems can be overcome, the researchers said, the technique could even find its way into health-tracker applications for smartphones and computers.

The work was published in Biomedical Optics Express (doi: 10.1364/BOE.6.001565).

For more information, visit www.rice.edu.

Published: April 2015
Glossary
photoplethysmography
Photoplethysmography (PPG) is a non-invasive optical technique used to detect changes in blood volume in tissues. It measures variations in light absorption caused by the pulsatile nature of blood flow. Typically, PPG is employed to monitor physiological parameters such as heart rate and blood oxygen saturation. The basic principle involves illuminating the skin or a tissue with a light source, often an LED, and detecting the transmitted or reflected light using a photodetector. The key steps...
machine vision
Machine vision, also known as computer vision or computer sight, refers to the technology that enables machines, typically computers, to interpret and understand visual information from the world, much like the human visual system. It involves the development and application of algorithms and systems that allow machines to acquire, process, analyze, and make decisions based on visual data. Key aspects of machine vision include: Image acquisition: Machine vision systems use various...
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