Work

Remote photoplethysmography for contactless pulse rate monitoring: algorithm development and accuracy assessment

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Objective. Remote photoplethysmography (rPPG) offers a promising method for contactless pulse rate (PR) monitoring, which is particularly valuable for remote patient care. However, signal noise—caused by factors such as motion and lighting—can significantly impact measurement accuracy. Approach. We present a hybrid algorithm that combines frequency-domain analysis to estimate initial PR and a time-domain approach to refine this estimate, improving robustness in challenging conditions. Main results. The combined method increases accuracy and success rate compared to time-domain methods alone. Evaluated against time-aligned electrocardiogram, it achieved a root mean square error (RMSE) as low as 2.0 bpm and an r 2 of 0.96. On a larger outpatient dataset, the RMSE was 3.2 bpm with an r 2 of 0.93. Importantly, no significant performance difference was observed across varying skin tones. Significance. These results demonstrate that the proposed PR algorithm enables reliable, contactless pulse monitoring in real-world conditions, supporting broader adoption of rPPG for inclusive and scalable remote health monitoring.

Source: Physiological Measurement

DOI: 10.1088/1361-6579/ae1804

Authors: Lieke Dorine van Putten, Ayman Ahmed, Simon Wegerif

Language: English

Topic: Non-Invasive Vital Sign Monitoring

Subfield: Biomedical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,325

Funder: National Institute for Health and Care Research