Photoplethysmography imaging:camera performance evaluation by means of an optoelectronic skin perfusion phantom.

Photoplethysmography imaging (PPGI) is a promising contactless camera-based method of non-invasive cardiovascular diagnostics. To achieve the best results, it is important to choose the most suitable camera for a specific application. The settings of the camera influence the quality of the detected signal. The standard (European Machine Vision Association 2016 EMVA Standard 1288-Standard for Characterization of Image Sensors and Cameras pp 1-39 (available at: https://www.emva.org/wp-content/uploads/EMVA1288-3.1a.pdf)) for evaluating the imaging performance of machine vision cameras (MVC) helps at the initial decision of the sensor, but the camera should always be tested in terms of usability for a specific application. So far, PPGI lacks a standardized measurement scenario for evaluating the performance of individual cameras. For this, we realized a controllable optoelectronic phantom with artificial silicone skin allowing reproducible tests of cameras to verify their suitability for PPGI. The entire system is housed in a light-tight box. We tested an MVC, a digital single-lens reflex camera (DSLR) camera and a webcam. Each camera varies in used technology and price. We simulated real PPGI measurement conditions simulating the ratio of pulse (AC) and non-pulse (DC) component of the photoplethysmographic signal and achieved AC/DC ratios of 0.5 % on average. An additional OLED panel ensures proper DC providing reproducible measurement conditions. We evaluated the signal morphological features, amplitude spectrum, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and spatially dependent changes of simulated subcutaneous perfusion. Here, the MVC proved to be the most suitable device. A DSLR is also suitable for PPGI, but a larger smoothing kernel is required to obtain a perfusion map. The webcam, as the weakest contender, proved to be very susceptible to any inhomogeneous illumination of the examined artificial skin surface. However, it is still able to detect cardiac rhythm. The result of our work is an optoelectronic phantom for reproducible testing of PPGI camera performance in terms of signal quality and measurement equipment costs.