Camera respiratory rate agreed closely—but both signals passed quality checks during only 40.4% of non-intervention time

In 20 preterm infants, an external depth camera and the impedance monitor were both quality-valid during 40.4% of non-intervention time; either was valid during 75.3%. Agreement inside the paired intervals was close (MAE 1.44 breaths/min), but tuned quality thresholds, an imperfect low-rate comparator, one-site design, and no apnea or alarm testing keep this in feasibility territory.

THE HOT TAKE

The low error is real inside the chosen quality window. The window is the result clinicians need to see beside it.

This single-centre cross-sectional feasibility study recorded 20 preterm infants in closed incubators at Addenbrooke's Hospital for about 24 hours each. An external RGB-D camera estimated respiratory rate from motion while bedside thoracic impedance supplied the comparator waveform. Clinical care was not changed.