Algorithmic Principles of Remote PPG

• Published in: IEEE transactions on biomedical engineering Vol. 64; no. 7; pp. 1479 - 1491
• Main Authors: Wang, Wenjin, den Brinker, Albertus C., Stuijk, Sander, de Haan, Gerard
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States IEEE 01.07.2017; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Algorithm design and analysis; Algorithms; Biomedical monitoring; Blood Flow Velocity - physiology; Blood Volume - physiology; Blood Volume Determination; Cameras; Color; Colorimetry - methods; colors; Computer Simulation; Humans; Image color analysis; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; Light; Light sources; Mathematical model; Mathematical models; Models, Biological; Monitoring, Ambulatory - methods; Optical properties; Photography; photoplethysmography; Photoplethysmography - methods; remote sensing; Remote Sensing Technology - methods; Reproducibility of Results; Robustness (mathematics); Scattering, Radiation; Sensitivity and Specificity; Skin; Skin Physiological Phenomena
• ISSN: 0018-9294; 1558-2531
• DOI: 10.1109/TBME.2016.2609282

This paper introduces a mathematical model that incorporates the pertinent optical and physiological properties of skin reflections with the objective to increase our understanding of the algorithmic principles behind remote photoplethysmography (rPPG). The model is used to explain the different choices that were made in existing rPPG methods for pulse extraction. The understanding that comes from the model can be used to design robust or application-specific rPPG solutions. We illustrate this by designing an alternative rPPG method, where a projection plane orthogonal to the skin tone is used for pulse extraction. A large benchmark on the various discussed rPPG methods shows that their relative merits can indeed be understood from the proposed model.