Simultaneous measurements of multiple vital signs using non-contact frequency modulated continuous wave radar monitoring

In this study, a short-range mmWave radar is proposed for obtaining non-contact, non-invasive, and high-accuracy measurements of multiple vital signs. The system can extract the heart rate (HR), respiration rate (RR), and blood pressure (BP). A compact radar sensing unit operating at 122 GHz was used to transmit and receive signals reflected off a patient’s chest under breathing and non-breathing (breath-holding) conditions. Algorithms were developed for extracting the BP values. The BP values were determined as 129/80 and 129/83 for the breathing and non-breathing signals, respectively. Furthermore, the extracted data were used to calculate the HR and RR based on the period of each data cycle and a fast Fourier transform (FFT). Both techniques yielded an RR of 12 breaths per minute. The HR values for breathing and non-breathing were 68 and 53 beats per minute, respectively. Furthermore, the HRs computed from the FFT of the breathing and non-breathing signals were 55 and 53 beats per minute, respectively. All values were consistent with the reference values. Thus, the system shows feasibility for low-cost, highly accurate, and continuous patient monitoring.