A Low-Cost Embedded Imaging System for Low-Limb Vascular Metrics Monitoring

Cardiovascular metrics measurement and monitoring have been a critical need worldwide. The main objective of this work is to prototype an embedded imager for cardiovascular metrics monitoring. Utilizing an 850 nm Near-Infrared (NIR) light source and an Infrared (IR) camera, the system leverages the optical properties of human skin to extract Photoplethysmogram (PPG) signals, heart rate, and vascular structure from video data. We tested the system with 10 participants, comparing its heart rate measurements to those obtained from a contact PPG sensor, achieving an accuracy within ±5 bpm. Additionally, using an artificial hand phantom for blood vessel visualization, the system demonstrated a vessel extraction accuracy with an average error of 10.21 % in blood vessel width, confirming the effectiveness of our NIR-enhanced imaging approach.