Development of real-time image sequence analysis for evaluating posture change and respiratory rate of a subject in bed

TLDR

The study developed a contact‑free image‑sequence analysis technique to monitor bed‑bound subjects’ posture changes and respiratory rate. It employs a CCD camera and a high‑speed image processor to perform the computationally intensive analysis in real time. In a 61‑hour test on five nursing‑home residents, the system detected 99.4 % of movements, produced flat waveforms when subjects were out of view, and shows potential for monitoring sleep patterns.

Abstract

An image sequence analysis technique was developed to evaluate posture change and respiratory rate of a subject in bed without any physical contact. Although the image sequence analysis requires many calculations, the system can perform them in real time. The system consisted of a CCD video camera and a PC equipped with a high-speed image processor. To evaluate the system, we tested it on five subjects at a nursing home. The system evaluated 99.4% of the movements of subjects during the total monitoring time (about 61 hours). The waveform was flat when the subject was out of view of the video camera. The system has the possibility of evaluating not only posture changes and respiratory rate. but also sleeping patterns.