Stereoscopic facial imaging for pain assessment using rotational offset microlens arrays based structured illumination

Conventional pain assessment methods such as patients’ self-reporting restrict the possibility of easy pain monitoring while pain serves as an important role in clinical practice. Here we report a pain assessment method via 3D face reading camera assisted by dot pattern illumination. The face reading camera module (FRCM) consists of a stereo camera and a dot projector, which allow the quantitative measurement of facial expression changes without human subjective judgement. The rotational offset microlens arrays (roMLAs) in the dot projector form a uniform dense dot pattern on a human face. The dot projection facilitates evaluating three-dimensional change of facial expression by improving 3D reconstruction results of non-textured facial surfaces. In addition, the FRCM provides consistent pain rating from 3D data, regardless of head movement. This pain assessment method can provide a new guideline for precise, real-time, and continuous pain monitoring.