Embodiments of the present invention are related to a method and device for the determination and calculation of the depth of chest compressions during the administration of
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Embodiments use an optical sensor to monitor the distance that a victim's chest is displaced during each compression throughout the administration of CPR. The optical sensor is most commonly an
image sensor such as a
CMOS or CCD sensor, and more specifically a
CMOS image sensor capable of three-dimensional imaging based on the time-of-flight principle. An
infrared emitter may illuminate the victim's body and any visible piece of ground beside the victim. As the
infrared light interacts with any surfaces it encounters, it is reflected and returns to the
image sensor where the
time of flight of the
infrared light is calculated for every pixel in the image sensor. The distance data is used to gauge the effective displacement of the victim's chest. The optical sensors can be used to visualize the size of a patient and immediately gauge the
body type and instruct the user accordingly. Furthermore, optical measurement techniques can be used to accurately measure chest rise during
artificial respiration and ensure that proper ventilation is being administered in between compressions. In addition,
optical measurements of the chest of the victim and the hands of the rescuer can be used to help ensure that the rescuer has positioned his or her hands in the anatomically correct location for effective CPR.