Hierarchical Analysis of Thorax Models to Measure Tidal Volume

Abstract

Motion tracking of thorax kinematics can be used to determine respiration. However, determining a minimal sensor configuration from 64 candidate sensor locations is associated with high computational costs. Hence, a hierarchical optimization method was proposed to determine the optimal combination of sensors. The hierarchical method was assessed by its ability to quickly determine the sensor combination that will yield optimal modelled tidal volume compared to body plethysmograph measurements. This method was able to find the optimal sensor combinations, in approximately 2% of the estimated time required by an exhaustive search.

Keywords

• spontaneous breathing
• body plethysmography
• optoelectronic plethysmography
• sensor placement
• hierarchical analysis