Temporal spatial pulse signal detection system based on a flexible probe and binocular stereo vision.

The simulation of Chinese pulse diagnosis via acquisition and qualitative description of temporal and spatial pulse signals is important for objective pulse diagnosis in traditional Chinese medicine. In order to simulate pulse diagnosis by fingers, we developed a novel pulse signal detection device based on the airbag-type flexible probe, in which the pulse-taking pressure was adjusted using lever principle. A contact film was fixed at the tip of the probe, and two cameras were used to synchronously taking the deformation image of the contact film. Grid-pattern lines were printed on the contact film. Image coordinates of the intersection points were detected using ridge line fitting method. Then, the 3D coordinates of the intersection points were calculated based on binocular vision measurement principle and the deformations of the contact film was reconstructed through surface fitting. Finally, the 3D pulse image series containing spatial and temporal information were acquired. Using the acquired 3D pulse images, the pulse conditions can be quantitatively described, indicating the 3D pulse images are an effective way of quantitatively describing pulse conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]