Vital signs monitoring using Doppler radar and on-body antennas

[摘要] The chest of a person moves due to the heart beating and the lungs expanding and contracting. So the chest movement contains information about the heart and breathing rates. This property is used to detect vital signs using Doppler radar and On-Body antennas. These methods can be accurate, cost-effective, portable, comfortable and low profile alternatives to present commercial heart and breathing rate monitoring devices. The 1st method employing Doppler Effect is non-contact. It detects both the heart and breathing rates using the modulated reflected signals from the chest of a person. A parametric study is conducted considering frequency, power and distance to determine the best parameters for maximum accuracy. A small population study is conducted considering 5 people to validate the accuracy and working of Doppler radar as a vital signs monitor. The 2nd method monitors the heart and breathing rates by sensing motion in the near field proximity of an antenna using the antenna’s reflection coefficient. Simulation studies are conducted using CST chest models to verify the principle. An extensive parametric investigation considering frequency, antenna type, power, antenna location on body, body Position, and distances (between chest and antenna) is conducted to find parameters for maximum detection accuracy. A human population study considering 13 people is conducted to establish heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV) measurement feasibility. A signal processing study is also performed and the best algorithms are identified for accurate detection of vital signs. Besides this novel frequency and pattern reconfigurable antennas are proposed and designed for communications and/or vital signs monitoring purposes.

[发布机构] University:University of Birmingham;Department:School of Electronic, Electrical and Computer Engineering

[关键词] R Medicine;R Medicine (General)