Resuscitation 83 (2012) e11– e12
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Resuscitation
m/lo
Letter to t
Motion de
resuscitatio
Sir,
The mo
and AED re
provide goo
ing includin
poster) and
the results
Mini-VREM
monitor the
sensing inp
console. It
360. It does
gestures an
game contr
software. It
image of th
beings am
near-infrare
Kinect’s ha
firmware c
on-board p
to render
distinguish
as distingu
Kinect© sen
1.2–3.5 m. T
the vertical field is 63 cm, resulting in a resolution of just over
1.3 mm (0.051 in.) per pixel. With this technology, Kinect© can
distinguish objects depth within 1 cm and their height and width
within 3 mm. This resolution is sufficient for quality CPR analysis
(chest compression rate and depth). Recently, Microsoft released
a non-commercial Kinect© software development kit (SDK) for
Windows. It enables the academic and enthusiast communities
easy access to the capabilities offered by the Microsoft Kinect©
device connected to computers running the Windows 7 operating
system.4 Our preliminary tests demonstrate the feasibility of the
Kinect© sensor to monitor CPR performance and can be viewed on
U-tube.5 Kinect© was able to reproducibly track limb movement
during exte
synchrony
g for
t. Fur
ersta
0300-9572/$ –
doi:10.1016/j.rnal chest compression and demonstrated excellent
with simultaneous video recordings. We are now
see front matter © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
resuscitation.2011.07.043jo u rn al hom epage : www.elsev ier .co
he Editor
tection technology as a tool for cardiopulmonary
n (CPR) quality improvement
st popular method of training in basic life support
mains instructor-led training courses. Recent reviews
d evidence to support alternative methods of train-
g lay instructors, self-directed learning (web, video,
CPR feedback/prompt devices.1,2 We report here
of the prototype testing of the previously described
project.3 In brief we used the Kinect© sensor system to
performance of CPR on a manikin. Kinect© is a motion
ut device made by Microsoft for the Xbox 360 game
enables users to control and interact with the Xbox
this through a natural user interface which recognises
d spoken commands without the need to touch a
oller. Kinect’s camera is driven by both hardware and
does two things: it generates a three-dimensional
e objects in its field of view and recognises human
ong those objects. The camera transmits invisible
d light and works like sonar. At this point, both the
rdware—its camera and IR-light projector—and its
alled “middleware” are operating. The Kinect© has an
rocessor which uses algorithms to process the data
the three-dimensional image. The middleware can
human body parts, joints and movements, as well
ishing individual human faces from one another. The
sor can detect objects within a working distance of
he horizontal field of the Kinect© sensor is 87 cm, and
lookin
projec
to undcate / resusc i ta t ion
experienced developers willing to collaborate in this
ther research and technology development is needed
nd if Kinect© will be able to measure quality CPR data.
e12 Letter to the Editor / Resuscitation 83 (2012) e11– e12
Conflict of interest statement
None to declare.
References
1. Yeung J, Okamoto D, Soar J, Perkins GD. AED training and its impact on skill acqui-
sition, retention and performance – a systematic review of alternative training
methods. Resuscitation 2011;82:657–64.
2. Yeung J, Meeks R, Edelson D, Gao F, Soar J, Perkins GD. The use of CPR feed-
back/prompt devices during training and CPR performance: a systematic review.
Resuscitation 2009;80:743–51.
3. Semeraro F, Frisoli A, Bergamasco M, Cerchiari EL. Mini VREM project (mini virtual
reality enhanced mannequin). Resuscitation 2010;81:S106.
4. http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/um/redmond/projects/kinectsdk/.
5. http://youtu.be/JdcNnIf1Ccs.
Federico Semeraro ∗
Heartlands Birmingham Hospital, Birmingham,
United Kingdom
Luca Marchetti
CEO Studio Evil, Bologna, Italy
Antonio Frisoli
Percro, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Pisa, Italy
Erga L. Cerchiari
Maggiore Hospital, Bologna, Italy
Gavin D. Perkins
University of Warwick, Warwick, United Kingdom
∗ Corresponding author.
E-mail address: fsemeraro2008@gmail.com (F.
Semeraro)
13 July 2011