Automated optical measurements of human torso surface movements during breathing.

An automated light-sectioning system has been developed for continuously measuring the movements of the torso surface during breathing. The body is illuminated with planes of light of a known geometry, and the body is visualized with television cameras. The perceived angles at which the television scan detected the planes projected onto the body are encoded digitally and stored continuously on magnetic tape. Subsequently the geometry of the torso can be reconstructed at 80-ms intervals enabling the detailed pattern of movements and volume displacement over the torso surface to be determined. Displacements of 0.5 mm over the torso surface can be resolved, and respired volume can be measured to within 10% over the range of the vital capacity.