Non-contact cardiac activity monitoring using optical speckle-tolerant pulsed laser vibrometer

A non-contact, laser-based technology is deployed to monitor the detailed mechanical operations of the various chambers and valves of the heart. The high sensitivity, optical speckle-tolerant laser technology enables cardiac signature detection from the skin vascular network at all locations throughout the patient’s body surface, even in the presence of light-blocking surface coverage such as clothing and shoes. In experiments, observed signal features are identified with specific cardiac activity and corroborated with other modalities including electrocardiography. To demonstrate applicability, cardiac monitoring signals were obtained from patients with widely varying ethnical backgrounds. Abnormal signal from one patient exhibiting sinus arrhythmic symptoms was collected and analyzed, indicating the technology’s potential for medical diagnostics.