Abstract
Respiratory function testing is important for detecting and monitoring illness, however, it is difficult for some patients, such as the young and severely ill, to perform conventional tests that require cooperation and/or patient contact. A new method was developed for non-contact breathing measurement, employing photometric stereo to capture the surface topography of the torso of an unconstrained subject. The surface is integrated to calculate time-dependent volume changes during respiration. The method provides a useful means of continuously measuring volume changes during respiration with high spatial and temporal resolution. The system was tested by comparison with pneumotachometry equipment and a clear periodic signal, of a frequency corresponding to the reference data, was observed. The approach is unique in performing breathing monitoring (with potential diagnostic capability) for unconstrained patients in virtually any lighting conditions (including darkness during sleep) and in a non-contact, unobtrusive (i.e. using imperceptible light) fashion. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Highlights
Respiratory function testing is a useful method for monitoring the progression of clinical conditions, and is an important marker of serious illness
The NORM project focused on proof of principle of such a system, where an analysis model has been successfully developed and tidal breathing signals were detected
NORM demonstrated that photometric stereo is suitable for breathing measurement for conscious adult patients in real time
Summary
Respiratory function testing is a useful method for monitoring the progression of clinical conditions, and is an important marker of serious illness. The advantage of the technology presented in this paper is that it could be applied in large, community-based samples to measure aspects of early lung function that might indicate future disease in screening/monitoring programs. For significant patient numbers across all ages, no appropriate assessment tool exists, even though continuous monitoring could provide early warning of disease, that repeating conventional tests does not offer (and that simple tests such as respiratory rate might miss). This deficiency highlights the urgent need for research into clinical monitoring and diagnosis for enabling respiratory function testing in both specialist centres and primary care. The surface is integrated to calculate time-dependent volume changes during respiration
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: The International Journal of Medical Robotics and Computer Assisted Surgery
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
