Medical project needs advice for software choices

[shokan22]

Without going into specifics about my medical project, here's what I need to achieve. I want to be able to display on a monitor a flashing outline around the body of a seated subject that corresponds to the subject's heartbeat... in real time. I would imagine that the trigger would likely be sound-triggered, ie. microphone on the chest, or something similar.

What software does anyone suggest as a possible solution for the real-time flashing outline, and how it could be triggered by peaks in sound, or any other thoughts about possible workflows (other than the fact that it sounds like a pretty weird project )?

Thanks.

[filmboss80]

What you are talking about doing is highly proprietary; and as such, you will probably not find some ready-made solution on the open market. To make proper recordings of heart sounds and murmurs, no conventional microphone will do the job. The biomedical industry does make special transducers for such uses. As for the generating "outline" images around each individual patient, there are many ways to do it, but for your purposes, you should first consult with a biomedical engineer. Certainly, there are ways of getting electrocardiogram impulses to manifest flashing visual patterns on a screen; but there is likely nothing to instantaneously generate an individualized outline of a person, without doing some rotoscoping on your part.

This forum has very few experts on biomedical video or health sciences communications. However, there are institutions and groups you can consult. Check with teaching hospitals specializing in cardiovascular medicine. Search for a group called HeSCA (Health Sciences Communications Association, if I recall the name correctly). They will give you more assistance than just about anyone here.

[shokan22]

What you are talking about doing is highly proprietary; and as such, you will probably not find some ready-made solution on the open market. To make proper recordings of heart sounds and murmurs, no conventional microphone will do the job. The biomedical industry does make special transducers for such uses. As for the generating "outline" images around each individual patient, there are many ways to do it, but for your purposes, you should first consult with a biomedical engineer. Certainly, there are ways of getting electrocardiogram impulses to manifest flashing visual patterns on a screen; but there is likely nothing to instantaneously generate an individualized outline of a person, without doing some rotoscoping on your part.

This forum has very few experts on biomedical video or health sciences communications. However, there are institutions and groups you can consult. Check with teaching hospitals specializing in cardiovascular medicine. Search for a group called HeSCA (Health Sciences Communications Association, if I recall the name correctly). They will give you more assistance than just about anyone here.

My first goal, and the reason for this post, is to get info on how to generate the graphic software event from an impulse trigger that is either originally sound generated (a chest microphone) or generated by video, such as an impulse from a motion detection camera aimed at one spot of a volume input progressing graphic (such as in Audacity). The problem here is what sort of impulse can be generated that initiates a function in an off-the-shelf software such as Adobe After Effects?

The medical context is irrelevant here, the issue above is what I'm seeking info on.

Another possibility is to aim a video camera at a static volume indicator light of a software (Audacity does not have this) that is monitoring heartbeat via a microphone. This close-up of the pulsing indicator light in whatever software could be put on a layer with a transparent mask pre-configured for the static seated subject in the background (first) layer, This I do not know how to do.

Perhaps the first question is: what audio software has a volume indictor light that is not a running progression (such as in Audacity)? Along this line, maybe I need another forum to ask this.

[poisondeathray]

Do you have a special monitor? Most monitors only have a refresh rate of 60 , but you need to be able to depict ranges much higher than that to be useful . Otherwise a HR of 60 will look the same as a HR of 120 or 240

But to answer your original question, yes you can use AE to generate various effects driven by audio . It has some internal effects, but there are 3rd party ones as well (e.g. trapcode soundkeys) . The audio frequency and amplitude can be linked or integrated to drive other effects. However, this probably won't be possible in real time with AE

[shokan22]

Do you have a special monitor? Most monitors only have a refresh rate of 60 , but you need to be able to depict ranges much higher than that to be useful . Otherwise a HR of 60 will look the same as a HR of 120 or 240

60. But, I'm not getting how this bears on what I'm asking.

[poisondeathray]

Do you have a special monitor? Most monitors only have a refresh rate of 60 , but you need to be able to depict ranges much higher than that to be useful . Otherwise a HR of 60 will look the same as a HR of 120 or 240

60. But, I'm not getting how this bears on what I'm asking.

You didn't provide any background info. It's important because a HR of 240 is a severe tachycardia (if patient is at rest) that won't be represented any differently than 60. So it won't be a very useful - medical wise - display . I assume that's not your intention and it doesn't matter

I added some info about AE in my edit above, but it's not a real time solution

[shokan22]

Do you have a special monitor? Most monitors only have a refresh rate of 60 , but you need to be able to depict ranges much higher than that to be useful . Otherwise a HR of 60 will look the same as a HR of 120 or 240

60. But, I'm not getting how this bears on what I'm asking.

You didn't provide any background info. It's important because a HR of 240 is a severe tachycardia (if patient is at rest) that won't be represented any differently than 60. So it won't be a very useful - medical wise - display . I assume that's not your intention and it doesn't matter

I added some info about AE in my edit above, but it's not a real time solution

Thanks. I'm pursuing the idea of aiming a cam at a volume level light of an audio software. Which software has that for record level, I don't know yet. I've asked at Audacity. The After Effects configuration comes after and should be possible in two layers. I may make a GIF simulation with Photoshop to post here later.

[jagabo]

It's important because a HR of 240 is a severe tachycardia (if patient is at rest) that won't be represented any differently than 60.

Heart rates are measured in beats PER MINUTE. Monitor refresh rates are measured in refreshes PER SECOND.

[poisondeathray]

It's important because a HR of 240 is a severe tachycardia (if patient is at rest) that won't be represented any differently than 60.

Heart rates are measured in beats PER MINUTE. Monitor refresh rates are measured in refreshes PER SECOND.

ooops good point !

That would be a very fast heart rate. Too much Red Bull LOL

[shokan22]

As I say, I've simplified things and all I need to find is an audio software that has a static volume input level light instead of any kind of graph or progressive line.

[poisondeathray]

Exactly what did you have in mind for "static volume input level light" ? You mean with line in audio as a source, correct ?

[filmboss80]

Instead of looking at a point in an Audacity waveform, you should consider analog VU modulation metering between the microphone/transducer and the digital recording device. There used to be plenty of devices that would trigger a light, whenever the volume reached a designated peak level. By tapping into such a device, you would have your triggering mechanism.

BTW, I would have mentioned AfterEffects in my first response, except that your first post spoke of generating the outline in real time.