Title: A wearable respiratory plethysmography using flexible sensor

Authors: Mohammad Iman Mokhlespour Esfahani; Roya Narimani; Masoud Ramezanzadehkoldeh

Addresses: School of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology (SUT), Tehran, Iran ' School of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology (SUT), Tehran, Iran ' School of Structural Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway

Abstract: Assessment of respiratory volume is extensively performed in clinical applications in order to assess the cases of respiratory illness and the progression of the respiratory syndromes. Respiratory plethysmography is employed to determine the changes of chest volume to monitor breathing. A wearable respiration measuring system has been introduced to detect volume variations of chests. The system consists of a flexible sensor, stretchable cloth and electrical board. The flexible sensor, which measures electrical voltage produced by extension movements, is installed inside the shirt and nearly contacts the chest. The system can be used everywhere and be self-applied by patients. The main features of this system are: low cost, low weight and applicable for athletics and patients. We have tested the system 34 times for calibration. The curve equation of the flexible sensor output versus the output of spirometer is presented by two different methods (neural network and curve fitting). Finally, this curve equation can be applied to determine the changes of chest volume.

Keywords: respiratory plethysmography; breathing monitoring; flexible sensors; spirometery; respiratory volume; chest volume; patient monitoring; athletes; althlete monitoring; neural networks; curve fitting.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBET.2013.055667

International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, 2013 Vol.11 No.4, pp.364 - 380

Received: 06 Jul 2012
Accepted: 12 Mar 2013
Published online: 27 Sep 2014 *

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