Non-contact measurement of human oral breathing by using far infrared imaging

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K11981
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 61020:Human interface and interaction-related
• Research Institution: Nagoya City University
• Principal Investigator: Hanawa Dai 名古屋市立大学, 大学院芸術工学研究科, 教授 (50422506)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 遠赤外線画像 / 非接触計測 / 口呼吸 / 流量

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this research, we studied the feasibility of a method for non-contact measurement of quantitative flow volume in human oral breathing by using far-infrared imaging. We first study a method to extract the region of interest including mouth on far-infrared images and its automation. We next compared the flow volume of oral breathing and the air temperature of inhalation/exhalation by conducting experiments. Moreover, we compared the oral regions on far-infrared images and the air temperature. As a result, we found the possibility that the quantitative flow volume of oral breathing can be estimated in a non-contact manner by using far-infrared images.

Free Research Field

ヒューマンコンピュータインタラクション

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

従来，人間の口呼吸における流量は，ユーザに計測機器を装着させる接触型の方法でのみ，定量的な計測が可能であった．そのため，日常生活への応用に向けては，身体的・精神的な負担，計測機器脱着の危険性，複数人の同時計測が困難などの課題があった．本研究では，遠赤外線画像を用いた方法により，口呼吸における呼気・吸気の流量を，非接触かつ定量的に推定できる可能性，および，可視光画像の併用による自動化の可能性を示すことができた．