Multi- and hyperspectral imaging for health applications
Background
Videos of a person contain wide information in multiple dimensions. By analyzing videos, one can gain insights into perfusion dynamics and the metabolism. At the same time, videos allow to assess the affective state of a person. Videos thus enable a non-contact assessment and monitoring of health status featuring multiple clinical and out-of-hospital applications. While there is huge potential, many questions still must be resolved. With respect to capturing the perfusion from videos, for example, the mechanisms of signal generation are not completely understood, powerful methods to separate between various factors that affect videos are still lacking and much more clinical insights/trials are needed.
At DSENS, we work on multiple aspects regarding the usage of videos for health monitoring ranging from basic research to applied projects with clinical and industrial partners. We thereby use conventional RGB cameras but also work on the usage of hyperspectral imaging, which allows refined analyses and more far-reaching statements.
Potential topics (student works)
Possible topics include (but are not limited to) the following aspects
- Analysis or development of algorithms for the non-contact assessment of local perfusion from videos
- Investigations on the usability of hyperspectral reconstruction for vital parameters assessment
- Modelling and simulation of light-tissue interaction by Monte-Carlo simulations
- Conception and implementation of experimental studies invoking fluidic phantoms and healthy volunteers
Note that an individual adjustment is done based on students’ interest and the work to be accomplished (seminar works cover literature research and preparation of the state of the art; project modules, practical modules and theses cover own implementations as well).
Further reading
V. Fleischhauer, J. Bruhn, S. Rasche, and S. Zaunseder, “Photoplethysmography upon cold stress—impact of measurement site and acquisition mode,” Front. Physiol., vol. 14, no. June, pp. 1–15, Jun. 2023.
S. Zaunseder and S. Rasche, “Clinical applications for imaging photoplethysmography,” in Contactless Vital Signs Monitoring, Elsevier, 2022, pp. 149–164.