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Preclinical trial of noncontact anthropometric measurement using IR-UWB radar
Jinsup Kim1, Won Hyuk Lee2, Seung Hyun Kim1
1Department of Pediatrics, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea.
Insights
Impulse-radio ultrawideband (IR-UWB) radar can accurately estimate anthropometric measurements like height and weight without physical contact. This noncontact method shows promise for clinical applications, offering a convenient alternative to traditional assessment techniques.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Medical Physics
- Health Informatics
Background:
- Anthropometric profiles are crucial for diagnosing conditions such as malnutrition, obesity, and growth disorders.
- Noncontact measurement methods are valuable for assessing infants, children, and preventing disease transmission.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility of using impulse-radio ultrawideband (IR-UWB) radar for noncontact anthropometric measurements.
- To assess the accuracy of IR-UWB radar in estimating height, weight, and body mass index (BMI).
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 45 healthy adults participated in the study.
- Data from the IR-UWB radar sensor were analyzed using a convolutional neural network (CNN) algorithm.
- Measurements were compared against bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) as a reference standard.
Main Results:
- The root-mean-square errors (RMSE) for height, weight, and BMI were 2.78, 5.31, and 2.25, respectively.
- High agreement was observed between radar-predicted data and BIA reference values.
- Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were 0.93 for height, 0.94 for weight, and 0.83 for BMI.
Conclusions:
- IR-UWB radar technology can accurately estimate anthropometric parameters noncontactly.
- This study provides the first evidence supporting the use of radar sensors in clinical settings for anthropometry.
- Noncontact radar measurements offer a viable alternative for routine health assessments.
Abstract:
Anthropometric profiles are important indices for assessing medical conditions, including malnutrition, obesity, and growth disorders. Noncontact methods for estimating those parameters could have considerable value in many practical situations, such as the assessment of young, uncooperative infants or children and the prevention of infectious disease transmission. The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of obtaining noncontact anthropometric measurements using the impulse-radio ultrawideband (IR-UWB) radar sensor technique. A total of 45 healthy adults were enrolled, and a convolutional neural network (CNN) algorithm was implemented to analyze data extracted from IR-UWB radar. The differences (root-mean-square error, RMSE) between values from the radar and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) as a reference in the measurement of height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) were 2.78, 5.31, and 2.25, respectively; predicted data from the radar highly agreed with those from the BIA. The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were 0.93, 0.94, and 0.83. In conclusion, IR-UWB radar can provide accurate estimates of anthropometric parameters in a noncontact manner; this study is the first to support the radar sensor as an applicable method in clinical situations.
