Respiratory Motion Detection Using Projected Illumination Pattern
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing respiratory motion detection systems require additional directional microphones due to low sensitivity, making them less effective in detecting breathing interruptions and snoring, especially in home environments.
Innovation Solution
A respiratory motion detection apparatus that uses an illuminator to project a pattern onto a person, which is then detected by a camera, allowing for the determination of temporal respiratory motion signals from deformation of the pattern, improving sensitivity without the need for additional sensors or specific locations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an infrared detection system is used to monitor breathing, then the system can operate unobtrusively in home environments, but the sensitivity is too low to reliably detect breathing interruptions and snoring
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies optical pattern projection where a structured light pattern (analogous to color/visual changes) is projected onto the patient's chest. The deformation of this optical pattern due to respiratory motion is detected by a camera, converting subtle physical movements into detectable optical signal variations that significantly improve measurement sensitivity compared to direct infrared detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary optical pattern as a mediator between the patient's chest and the detection system. Instead of directly detecting chest motion with an insensitive infrared sensor, the system projects a light pattern onto the chest and detects its deformation, using the optical pattern as an intermediary that amplifies the detectability of subtle respiratory movements.
2Measurement precision
If additional directional microphones are added to detect breathing sounds, then sensitivity for detecting breathing interruptions improves, but the device complexity and number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the optical detection system multi-functional by configuring it to detect both respiratory motion (through chest wall deformation of the projected pattern) and snoring/breathing sounds (through vibration detection of the pattern). This single optical system replaces what would otherwise require separate infrared sensors and directional microphones, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining high sensitivity for multiple detection purposes.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables unobtrusive detection of both deep and shallow breathing, capable of distinguishing between multiple individuals, and provides alerts for irregular respiratory patterns, enhancing monitoring sensitivity and convenience.
Implementation Method 1
The illumination pattern deforms significantly with slight movements of the person, which are hardly detectable in, for example, temporally consecutive images of a person who is not illuminated with an illumination pattern.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a respiratory motion detection apparatus (1) for detecting respiratory motion of a person. An illuminator (3) illuminates the person (2) with an illumination pattern (11), and a detector (4) detects the illumination pattern (11) on the person (2) over time. A temporal respiratory motion signal being indicative of the respiratory motion of the person (2) is determined from the detected illumination pattern by a respiratory motion signal determination unit (5). The illumination pattern deforms significantly with slight movements of the person. Thus, since the respiratory motion signal determination unit (5) is adapted to determine the temporal respiratory motion signal from the detected illumination pattern, even slight respiratory movements of the person can be determined. The sensitivity of detecting respiratory movements of a person can therefore be improved.