Integrating RGB-thermal image sensors for non-contact automatic respiration rate monitoring

J Opt Soc Am A Opt Image Sci Vis. 2024 Jun 1;41(6):1140-1151. doi: 10.1364/JOSAA.520757.

Abstract

Respiration rate (RR) holds significance as a human health indicator. Presently, the conventional RR monitoring system requires direct physical contact, which may cause discomfort and pain. Therefore, this paper proposes a non-contact RR monitoring system integrating RGB and thermal imaging through RGB-thermal image alignment. The proposed method employs an advanced image processing algorithm for automatic region of interest (ROI) selection. The experimental results demonstrated a close correlation and a lower error rate between measured thermal, measured RGB, and reference data. In summary, the proposed non-contact system emerges as a promising alternative to conventional contact-based approaches without the associated discomfort and pain.

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Color
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / methods
  • Monitoring, Physiologic / instrumentation
  • Monitoring, Physiologic / methods
  • Respiratory Rate* / physiology
  • Thermography / instrumentation
  • Thermography / methods