2-dimensional Measurement of Arterial Pulse by Imaging Devices

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Objectives: For the traditional pulse diagnosis in Oriental Medicine, not only the pulse shape in time domain, but the width, length and depth of arterial pulse also should be measured. However, conventional pulse diagnostic systems have failed to measure the spatial parameters of the arterial pulse e.g. effective length of arterial pulse in the wrist. In fact, there are many ways to measure that kind of spatial features in arterial pulsation, but among them, the method using image sensor provides relatively cheap and simple way, therefore I tested feasibility of measuring 2-dimensional pressure distribution by imaging devices. Methods: Using widely used PC cameras and dotted balloons, the subtle oscillation of skin over the radial artery was recorded continuously, and then the displacement of every dot was calculated. Consequently, the time course of that displacements shows arterial pulse wave. Results: By the proposed method I could get pressure distribution map with 30Hz sampling rate, 21steps quantization resolution, and approximately 1mm spatial resolution. With reduced quantization resolution, $3cm{\times}4cm$ view angle could be achieved. Conclusion: Although this method has some limitations, it would be useful method for detecting 2-dimensional features of arterial pulse, and accordingly, this method provides a novel way to detect 'narrow pulse', 'wide pulse', 'long pulse', 'short pulse', and their derivatives.