Vision-based Sensing of Respiration

Vision-based Sensing of Respiration in Preterm Infants

Degree type

PhD

Closing date

27 March 2023

Campus

Hobart

Citizenship requirement

Domestic/International

About the research project

This project is to investigate the potential for improved sensing of respiration, including respiratory pauses (apnoea), in preterm infants while receiving respiratory support in neonatal intensive care. This forms part of a larger NHMRC-funded “PANDA”* study investigating the performance of systems for sensing and predicting apnoea in preterm infants.

Current sensing of respiration in neonatal intensive care is routinely through inductance plethysmography via ECG electrodes. Unfortunately, this is often unreliable especially during apnoeas where the heartbeat may be misconstrued as respiration, and impacts care and health outcomes. More reliable sensing of respiration will improve care of these infants, and our preliminary research suggests vision-based sensing is a potential solution.

In this project, vision-based sensing systems, including colour and infrared imaging, will be developed for continuously detecting respiration in preterm infants during respiratory support in intensive care. Vision systems will be camera-based and capable of continuous monitoring for extended periods. Novel image processing methods for extracting respiratory motion from the recordings will be developed, utilising conventional and machine learning approaches, and used to extract respiratory motion from the recordings. Respiratory motion will then be characterized over the study period, including periods of apnoea, and compared to routine and other respiration monitoring recorded during PANDA data collection, and performance determined in detecting clinically useful respiratory information including apnoea.

The outcomes of the project will be a thorough investigation of vision-based systems for sensing of respiration and potentially a vision-based apnoea monitoring system for clinical use which would be a significant advance in preterm care.

This project will be based in the School of Engineering at the University of Tasmania and involves close liaison with the Neonatal and Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at the Royal Hobart Hospital.

*PANDA: Prediction and novel detection of apnoea in preterm infants (NHRMC Ideas Grant 1182515).

Primary Supervisor

Meet Dr Timothy Gale

Funding

Applicants will be considered for a Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship or Tasmania Graduate Research Scholarship (TGRS) which, if successful, provides:

  • a living allowance stipend of $31,500 per annum (2023 rate, indexed annually) for 3.5 years
  • a relocation allowance of up to $2,000
  • a tuition fees offset covering the cost of tuition fees for up to four years (domestic applicants only)

If successful, international applicants will receive a University of Tasmania Fees Offset for up to four years.

As part of the application process you may indicate if you do not wish to be considered for scholarship funding.

Eligibility

Applicants should review the Higher Degree by Research minimum entry requirements.

Additional eligibility criteria specific to this project/scholarship:

  • Applicants must be able to undertake the project on-campus

Selection Criteria

The project is competitively assessed and awarded.  Selection is based on academic merit and suitability to the project as determined by the College.

Additional essential selection criteria specific to this project:

  • Software development expertise

Additional desirable selection criteria specific to this project:

  • Image Processing expertise

Application process

There is a three-step application process:

  1. Select your project, and check you meet the eligibility and selection criteria;
  2. Contact the Primary Supervisor, Dr Timothy Gale to discuss your suitability and the project's requirements; and
  3. Submit an application by the closing date listed above.
    • Copy and paste the title of the project from this advertisement into your application. If you don’t correctly do this your application may be rejected.
    • As part of your application, you will be required to submit a covering letter, a CV including 2 x referees and your project research proposal.

Following the application closing date applications will be assessed within the College. Applicants should expect to receive notification of the outcome by email by the advertised outcome date.

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