Given the importance of the voice in our daily lives, any study focused on its pathologies and th... more Given the importance of the voice in our daily lives, any study focused on its pathologies and the way of caring and promoting the health of them is of common interest. This paper describes a method to automatically aid indetecting vocal folds benign pathologies based on glottal space segmentation vocal fold video sequences captured by a laryngoscope. The proposed algorithm is based on automatic segmentation supported by Gabor filters, and features classification with Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to achieve the expected results. The authors wish to emphasize that the proposed algorithm is independent from the images' resolution and zoom, but their quality depends on specialist experience with the instrumentation. Segmentation block provides good results for 95% of images and classification block distinguishes successfully between pathological and healthy images in 92.1% of cases. The proposed system's findings have been compared with the diagnosis made by doctors and it obtains the same results in all the 45 sequences. One of the proposed study's key elements has been which objective measurements are of significance for the specialist. In this case, it is those that enable the specialist to calculate the size of the pathology (previously classified automatically) that he/she is observing, thus enabling them to provide the patient with more information or to prescribe treatment and even measure its development.
This paper presents a technical solution that analyses sleep signals captured by biomedical senso... more This paper presents a technical solution that analyses sleep signals captured by biomedical sensors to find possible disorders during rest. Specifically, the method evaluates electrooculogram (EOG) signals, skin conductance (GSR), air flow (AS), and body temperature. Next, a quantitative sleep quality analysis determines significant changes in the biological signals, and any similarities between them in a given time period. Filtering techniques such as the Fourier transform method and IIR filters process the signal and identify significant variations. Once these changes have been identified, all significant data is compared and a quantitative and statistical analysis is carried out to determine the level of a person's rest. To evaluate the correlation and significant differences, a statistical analysis has been calculated showing correlation between EOG and AS signals (p=0,005), EOG, and GSR signals (p=0,037) and, finally, the EOG and Body temperature (p=0,04). Doctors could use this information to monitor changes within a patient.
This paper presents the single channel speech enhancement system using subband Kalman filtering b... more This paper presents the single channel speech enhancement system using subband Kalman filtering by estimating optimal Autoregressive (AR) coefficients and variance for speech and noise, using Weighted Linear Prediction (WLP) and Noise Weighting Function (NWF). The system is applied for normal and Oesophageal speech signals. The method is evaluated by Perceptual Evaluation of Speech Quality (PESQ) score and Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) improvement for normal speech and Harmonic to Noise Ratio (HNR) for Oesophageal Speech (OES). Compared with previous systems, the normal speech indicates 30% increase in PESQ score, 4 dB SNR improvement and OES shows 3 dB HNR improvement.
10th International Conference on Information Science, Signal Processing and their Applications (ISSPA 2010), 2010
ABSTRACT This paper deals with oesophageal speech enhancement using Kalman Filtering. Such an exc... more ABSTRACT This paper deals with oesophageal speech enhancement using Kalman Filtering. Such an exceptionally special type of voice is due to the laryngectomy undergone by those persons with larynx cancer. Kalman filtering is known as an effective speech enhancement technique. In this context, several approaches have been developed in the past. One of the most important steps in the speech enhancement using Kalman filtering is the estimation of parameters of the signal parameters and noise. Coloured noise is considered in this kind of voice. Two approaches have been carried out in this paper in order to estimate the noise parameters: firstly, the measurement noise is estimated using AR model of oesophageal voice during the period of silence and the model noise process is not considered. Secondly, the model and measurement noise process is estimated theoretically in recursive procedure.
Technology and health care : official journal of the European Society for Engineering and Medicine, Jan 6, 2015
Socially assistive robotics (SAR) has been a major field of investigation during the last decade ... more Socially assistive robotics (SAR) has been a major field of investigation during the last decade and, as it develops, the groups the technology can be applied to and all ways in which these can be assisted are rapidly increasing. The main objective is to design and develop a complete robotic agent, so that it performs physical and mental activities for elderly people to maintain their healthy life habits and, as a final result, improve their quality of life.METHODS: LEGO Mindstorms NXT® robot's unique capacity for adaptability and engaging its users to develop coaching activities and assistive rehabilitation for the elderly. Such activities will aim to enhance healthy habits and provide training in physical and mental rehabilitation. The robot is attached to an iPod Touch that acts as its interface. The robot has been tested by a voluntary group of residents, also from that retirement home. Results in the variables of the questionnaire show scores above 4 points out of 5 for all...
IEEE International Symposium on Signal Processing and Information Technology, 2013
ABSTRACT This paper presents an oesophageal speech enhancement algorithm using different wavelet ... more ABSTRACT This paper presents an oesophageal speech enhancement algorithm using different wavelet approach. Such an exceptionally special type of voice is due to the laryngectomy undergone by those persons with larynx cancer. An oesophageal voice has extremely low intelligibility. This work proposes a method to improve its quality, which consists of enhancing the Shimmer parameter using Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) and it has been tested with different mother wavelets. By taking advantage of the Wavelet Transform's special time-frequency properties, a corrective algorithm in the form of a wave is applied for the signal intervals in which the shimmer measurement goes beyond normal levels. Therefore, an atomized control of the signal peaks is carried out, having an effect on the normalization of the shimmer. The final speech improvement has been measured with the help of Multidimensional Voice Program (MDVP) [7] tools.
2010 2nd International IEEE Consumer Electronics Society's Games Innovations Conference, 2010
Puzzles are being used more and more often as a tool for psychomotor activity therapies due to th... more Puzzles are being used more and more often as a tool for psychomotor activity therapies due to the fact that they boast a series of advantages, such as spatial orientation, visual-motor coordination and visual perception. This project presents the development of a therapeutic tool based on the game of Tangram using augmented reality techniques. The therapy continues to employ the
2009 IEEE International Symposium on Signal Processing and Information Technology (ISSPIT), 2009
In this paper a digital system for enhancing the diagnosis of skin cancer is presented. The algor... more In this paper a digital system for enhancing the diagnosis of skin cancer is presented. The algorithm is based on the standard ABCD dermatologic protocol, and on the measurements of contours and surfaces of some specific areas into the mole image captured by epiluminiscence techniques. Automatic algorithms of digital image processing have been developed in order to detect the appropriate
2009 IEEE International Symposium on Signal Processing and Information Technology (ISSPIT), 2009
ABSTRACT The graphical information used in technical degrees is not accessible to visually disabl... more ABSTRACT The graphical information used in technical degrees is not accessible to visually disabled people, which is why a system is being developed to provide a textual description of the information from diagrams using digital image processing and computer vision techniques. This data is used to create a textual description which will be automatically added to the corresponding figure in order to make it accessible. Lecturers and teachers will be able to create teaching materials with common applications such as DIA, and then they will convert the charts into accessible-content figures in a very easy way. When the material arrives to the students, they will be able to access the information with the usual general applications like OpenOffice. The screen reader will let them navigate around the graph in order to access the information of a concrete element in it.
Given the importance of the voice in our daily lives, any study focused on its pathologies and th... more Given the importance of the voice in our daily lives, any study focused on its pathologies and the way of caring and promoting the health of them is of common interest. This paper describes a method to automatically aid indetecting vocal folds benign pathologies based on glottal space segmentation vocal fold video sequences captured by a laryngoscope. The proposed algorithm is based on automatic segmentation supported by Gabor filters, and features classification with Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to achieve the expected results. The authors wish to emphasize that the proposed algorithm is independent from the images' resolution and zoom, but their quality depends on specialist experience with the instrumentation. Segmentation block provides good results for 95% of images and classification block distinguishes successfully between pathological and healthy images in 92.1% of cases. The proposed system's findings have been compared with the diagnosis made by doctors and it obtains the same results in all the 45 sequences. One of the proposed study's key elements has been which objective measurements are of significance for the specialist. In this case, it is those that enable the specialist to calculate the size of the pathology (previously classified automatically) that he/she is observing, thus enabling them to provide the patient with more information or to prescribe treatment and even measure its development.
This paper presents a technical solution that analyses sleep signals captured by biomedical senso... more This paper presents a technical solution that analyses sleep signals captured by biomedical sensors to find possible disorders during rest. Specifically, the method evaluates electrooculogram (EOG) signals, skin conductance (GSR), air flow (AS), and body temperature. Next, a quantitative sleep quality analysis determines significant changes in the biological signals, and any similarities between them in a given time period. Filtering techniques such as the Fourier transform method and IIR filters process the signal and identify significant variations. Once these changes have been identified, all significant data is compared and a quantitative and statistical analysis is carried out to determine the level of a person's rest. To evaluate the correlation and significant differences, a statistical analysis has been calculated showing correlation between EOG and AS signals (p=0,005), EOG, and GSR signals (p=0,037) and, finally, the EOG and Body temperature (p=0,04). Doctors could use this information to monitor changes within a patient.
This paper presents the single channel speech enhancement system using subband Kalman filtering b... more This paper presents the single channel speech enhancement system using subband Kalman filtering by estimating optimal Autoregressive (AR) coefficients and variance for speech and noise, using Weighted Linear Prediction (WLP) and Noise Weighting Function (NWF). The system is applied for normal and Oesophageal speech signals. The method is evaluated by Perceptual Evaluation of Speech Quality (PESQ) score and Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) improvement for normal speech and Harmonic to Noise Ratio (HNR) for Oesophageal Speech (OES). Compared with previous systems, the normal speech indicates 30% increase in PESQ score, 4 dB SNR improvement and OES shows 3 dB HNR improvement.
10th International Conference on Information Science, Signal Processing and their Applications (ISSPA 2010), 2010
ABSTRACT This paper deals with oesophageal speech enhancement using Kalman Filtering. Such an exc... more ABSTRACT This paper deals with oesophageal speech enhancement using Kalman Filtering. Such an exceptionally special type of voice is due to the laryngectomy undergone by those persons with larynx cancer. Kalman filtering is known as an effective speech enhancement technique. In this context, several approaches have been developed in the past. One of the most important steps in the speech enhancement using Kalman filtering is the estimation of parameters of the signal parameters and noise. Coloured noise is considered in this kind of voice. Two approaches have been carried out in this paper in order to estimate the noise parameters: firstly, the measurement noise is estimated using AR model of oesophageal voice during the period of silence and the model noise process is not considered. Secondly, the model and measurement noise process is estimated theoretically in recursive procedure.
Technology and health care : official journal of the European Society for Engineering and Medicine, Jan 6, 2015
Socially assistive robotics (SAR) has been a major field of investigation during the last decade ... more Socially assistive robotics (SAR) has been a major field of investigation during the last decade and, as it develops, the groups the technology can be applied to and all ways in which these can be assisted are rapidly increasing. The main objective is to design and develop a complete robotic agent, so that it performs physical and mental activities for elderly people to maintain their healthy life habits and, as a final result, improve their quality of life.METHODS: LEGO Mindstorms NXT® robot's unique capacity for adaptability and engaging its users to develop coaching activities and assistive rehabilitation for the elderly. Such activities will aim to enhance healthy habits and provide training in physical and mental rehabilitation. The robot is attached to an iPod Touch that acts as its interface. The robot has been tested by a voluntary group of residents, also from that retirement home. Results in the variables of the questionnaire show scores above 4 points out of 5 for all...
IEEE International Symposium on Signal Processing and Information Technology, 2013
ABSTRACT This paper presents an oesophageal speech enhancement algorithm using different wavelet ... more ABSTRACT This paper presents an oesophageal speech enhancement algorithm using different wavelet approach. Such an exceptionally special type of voice is due to the laryngectomy undergone by those persons with larynx cancer. An oesophageal voice has extremely low intelligibility. This work proposes a method to improve its quality, which consists of enhancing the Shimmer parameter using Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) and it has been tested with different mother wavelets. By taking advantage of the Wavelet Transform's special time-frequency properties, a corrective algorithm in the form of a wave is applied for the signal intervals in which the shimmer measurement goes beyond normal levels. Therefore, an atomized control of the signal peaks is carried out, having an effect on the normalization of the shimmer. The final speech improvement has been measured with the help of Multidimensional Voice Program (MDVP) [7] tools.
2010 2nd International IEEE Consumer Electronics Society's Games Innovations Conference, 2010
Puzzles are being used more and more often as a tool for psychomotor activity therapies due to th... more Puzzles are being used more and more often as a tool for psychomotor activity therapies due to the fact that they boast a series of advantages, such as spatial orientation, visual-motor coordination and visual perception. This project presents the development of a therapeutic tool based on the game of Tangram using augmented reality techniques. The therapy continues to employ the
2009 IEEE International Symposium on Signal Processing and Information Technology (ISSPIT), 2009
In this paper a digital system for enhancing the diagnosis of skin cancer is presented. The algor... more In this paper a digital system for enhancing the diagnosis of skin cancer is presented. The algorithm is based on the standard ABCD dermatologic protocol, and on the measurements of contours and surfaces of some specific areas into the mole image captured by epiluminiscence techniques. Automatic algorithms of digital image processing have been developed in order to detect the appropriate
2009 IEEE International Symposium on Signal Processing and Information Technology (ISSPIT), 2009
ABSTRACT The graphical information used in technical degrees is not accessible to visually disabl... more ABSTRACT The graphical information used in technical degrees is not accessible to visually disabled people, which is why a system is being developed to provide a textual description of the information from diagrams using digital image processing and computer vision techniques. This data is used to create a textual description which will be automatically added to the corresponding figure in order to make it accessible. Lecturers and teachers will be able to create teaching materials with common applications such as DIA, and then they will convert the charts into accessible-content figures in a very easy way. When the material arrives to the students, they will be able to access the information with the usual general applications like OpenOffice. The screen reader will let them navigate around the graph in order to access the information of a concrete element in it.
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Papers by B. Zapirain