Non-Contact Neonatal Heart Rate Monitoring Using Blue Filter Technique with Photoplethysmography Imaging under UV Illumination

Non-contact heart rate (HR) monitoring is essential for neonates, as traditional adhesive sensors can damage their delicate skin. The rise in contagious viral infections further emphasizes the need for contactless neonatal healthcare monitoring systems to reduce physical interaction and the risk of disease transmission. This study proposes a novel non-contact HR monitoring system for neonates, combining a blue-filter technique with skin color enhancement under UV illumination. The system utilizes digital camera-based photoplethysmography imaging and a tile-based region of interest (ROI) selection method. Also, a neonatal graphical user interface (GUI) was developed for real-time HR monitoring and clear visualization of findings. We compared the findings of the proposed technique with standard UV photoplethysmography imaging without the blue filter technique to validate its effectiveness. Experimental findings demonstrate the proposed system’s high performance, with a Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC) of 0.998 and a mean absolute error (MAE) of 1.12 bpm, closely matched to ECG monitor readings. These findings highlight the system’s potential as a reliable, non-contact solution for neonatal HR monitoring in the NICU, offering a promising advancement in neonatal care and broader biomedical applications.