This study aimed to produce a prototype system for non-contact vital sign monitoring of the elderly using microwave radar with the intention of reducing the burdens on monitored individuals and nursing caregivers. In ...This study aimed to produce a prototype system for non-contact vital sign monitoring of the elderly using microwave radar with the intention of reducing the burdens on monitored individuals and nursing caregivers. In addition, we tested the ability of the proposed prototype system to measure the respiratory and heart rates of the elderly in a nursing home and discussed the systems effectiveness and problems by examining results of real-time monitoring. The prototype system consisted of two 24-GHz microwave radar antennas and an analysis system. The antennas were positioned below a mattress to monitor motion on the body surface for measuring cardiac and respiratory rates from the dorsal side of the subjects (23.3 ± 1.2 years) who would be lying on the mattress. The heart rates determined by the prototype system correlated significantly with those measured by electrocardiography (r = 0.92). Similarly, the respiratory rates determined by the prototype correlated with those obtained from respiration curves (r = 0.94). Next, we investigated the effectiveness of the prototype system with 7 elderly patients (93.3 ± 10.56 years) at a nursing home. The proposed system appears to be a promising tool for monitoring the vital signs of the elderly in a way that alleviates the need to attach electrodes overnight to confirm patient safety.展开更多
The aim of this study was to measure the motion of the body surface induced by heartbeat by using a high-precision laser sensor in order to provide a reference for other research on medical remote sensing techniques t...The aim of this study was to measure the motion of the body surface induced by heartbeat by using a high-precision laser sensor in order to provide a reference for other research on medical remote sensing techniques that are unconstrained and non-contact. Body surface motions at some points on the chest and on the dorsal region were measured for eight men with a laser displacement sensor. For comparison, an electrocardiograph was also used to monitor the heartbeat. As a result, we confirmed cyclic motion of about 0.1 mm in amplitude everywhere on the body surface, not only from the front of the body but also from the back and the neck. In contrast, which part on the body was most suitable for measurement had to be taken into account because a difference in motion amplitudes was observed in different parts on the body. The amplitude of the motions also depended on the conditions of the body surface as well as underneath the skin. These results show the possibility of acquiring information about heartbeats from anywhere on the body by using an unconscious sensing technique, and the potential for the technique to monitor the condition of the body and personal physical characteristics.展开更多
The jugular venous pulse (JVP) waveform provides an insight into right heart function, and its assessment is important in patients with heart failure. However, the conventional pulse-transducer (contact) method for mo...The jugular venous pulse (JVP) waveform provides an insight into right heart function, and its assessment is important in patients with heart failure. However, the conventional pulse-transducer (contact) method for monitoring this waveform is not frequently used because it requires a high degree of skill. The aim of this study was to confirm the effectiveness of a prototype non-contact system that employs microwave radar (24 GHz, 7 mW;non-contact system) for JVP measurement. Experiments were conducted on eight healthy male volunteers (21.88 ± 0.99 years). JVP measurements were compared between the conventional contact method and the proposed non-contact method. Change in JVP waveform was measured in response to an angle of reclining in five steps from the supine position to 75<span style="white-space:nowrap;">°</span> of elevation. The obtained JVP measurements were similar between the two methods. Because in the non-contact method the faint pulsation of the JVP is not suppressed by the pressure of a sensor placed on the skin, the prototype microwave radar system is particularly suitable for evaluating the JVP waveform.展开更多
This study aims to confirm whether noncontact monitoring of relative changes in blood pressure can be estimated using microwave radar sensors. First, an equation to estimate blood pressure was derived, after which, th...This study aims to confirm whether noncontact monitoring of relative changes in blood pressure can be estimated using microwave radar sensors. First, an equation to estimate blood pressure was derived, after which, the effectiveness of the estimation equation was confirmed using data obtained by a noncontact method while inducing variations in blood pressure. We considered that the Bramwell-Hill equation, which contains some parameters that directly indicate changes in blood pressure, would be an appropriate reference to construct an estimation equation for the noncontact method, because measurements using microwave radar sensors can measure minute scale motion on the skin surface induced by the pulsation of blood vessels. In order to estimate relative changes in blood pressure, we considered a simple equation including the pulse transit time (PTT), amplitude of signals and body dimensions as parameters. To verify the effectiveness of the equation for estimating changes in blood pressure, two experiments were conducted: a cycling task using an ergometer, which induces blood pressure fluctuations because of changes in cardiac output, and a task using the Valsalva maneuver, which induces blood pressure fluctuations because of changes in vascular resistance. The results obtained from the two experiments suggested that the proposed equation using microwave radar sensors can accurately estimate relative changes of blood pressure. In particular, relatively favorable results were obtained for the changes in blood pressure induced by the changes in cardiac volume. Although many issues remain, this method could be expected to contribute to the continuous evaluation of cardiac function while reducing the burden on patients.展开更多
文摘This study aimed to produce a prototype system for non-contact vital sign monitoring of the elderly using microwave radar with the intention of reducing the burdens on monitored individuals and nursing caregivers. In addition, we tested the ability of the proposed prototype system to measure the respiratory and heart rates of the elderly in a nursing home and discussed the systems effectiveness and problems by examining results of real-time monitoring. The prototype system consisted of two 24-GHz microwave radar antennas and an analysis system. The antennas were positioned below a mattress to monitor motion on the body surface for measuring cardiac and respiratory rates from the dorsal side of the subjects (23.3 ± 1.2 years) who would be lying on the mattress. The heart rates determined by the prototype system correlated significantly with those measured by electrocardiography (r = 0.92). Similarly, the respiratory rates determined by the prototype correlated with those obtained from respiration curves (r = 0.94). Next, we investigated the effectiveness of the prototype system with 7 elderly patients (93.3 ± 10.56 years) at a nursing home. The proposed system appears to be a promising tool for monitoring the vital signs of the elderly in a way that alleviates the need to attach electrodes overnight to confirm patient safety.
文摘The aim of this study was to measure the motion of the body surface induced by heartbeat by using a high-precision laser sensor in order to provide a reference for other research on medical remote sensing techniques that are unconstrained and non-contact. Body surface motions at some points on the chest and on the dorsal region were measured for eight men with a laser displacement sensor. For comparison, an electrocardiograph was also used to monitor the heartbeat. As a result, we confirmed cyclic motion of about 0.1 mm in amplitude everywhere on the body surface, not only from the front of the body but also from the back and the neck. In contrast, which part on the body was most suitable for measurement had to be taken into account because a difference in motion amplitudes was observed in different parts on the body. The amplitude of the motions also depended on the conditions of the body surface as well as underneath the skin. These results show the possibility of acquiring information about heartbeats from anywhere on the body by using an unconscious sensing technique, and the potential for the technique to monitor the condition of the body and personal physical characteristics.
文摘The jugular venous pulse (JVP) waveform provides an insight into right heart function, and its assessment is important in patients with heart failure. However, the conventional pulse-transducer (contact) method for monitoring this waveform is not frequently used because it requires a high degree of skill. The aim of this study was to confirm the effectiveness of a prototype non-contact system that employs microwave radar (24 GHz, 7 mW;non-contact system) for JVP measurement. Experiments were conducted on eight healthy male volunteers (21.88 ± 0.99 years). JVP measurements were compared between the conventional contact method and the proposed non-contact method. Change in JVP waveform was measured in response to an angle of reclining in five steps from the supine position to 75<span style="white-space:nowrap;">°</span> of elevation. The obtained JVP measurements were similar between the two methods. Because in the non-contact method the faint pulsation of the JVP is not suppressed by the pressure of a sensor placed on the skin, the prototype microwave radar system is particularly suitable for evaluating the JVP waveform.
文摘This study aims to confirm whether noncontact monitoring of relative changes in blood pressure can be estimated using microwave radar sensors. First, an equation to estimate blood pressure was derived, after which, the effectiveness of the estimation equation was confirmed using data obtained by a noncontact method while inducing variations in blood pressure. We considered that the Bramwell-Hill equation, which contains some parameters that directly indicate changes in blood pressure, would be an appropriate reference to construct an estimation equation for the noncontact method, because measurements using microwave radar sensors can measure minute scale motion on the skin surface induced by the pulsation of blood vessels. In order to estimate relative changes in blood pressure, we considered a simple equation including the pulse transit time (PTT), amplitude of signals and body dimensions as parameters. To verify the effectiveness of the equation for estimating changes in blood pressure, two experiments were conducted: a cycling task using an ergometer, which induces blood pressure fluctuations because of changes in cardiac output, and a task using the Valsalva maneuver, which induces blood pressure fluctuations because of changes in vascular resistance. The results obtained from the two experiments suggested that the proposed equation using microwave radar sensors can accurately estimate relative changes of blood pressure. In particular, relatively favorable results were obtained for the changes in blood pressure induced by the changes in cardiac volume. Although many issues remain, this method could be expected to contribute to the continuous evaluation of cardiac function while reducing the burden on patients.
