Theoretical model for remote heartbeat detection using radiofrequency waves

Abstract

Recently there is an increasing demand for contactless and unobtrusive techniques able to ensure a complete, comfortable and unobtrusive monitoring of human vital signs even in critical situations, such as burn victims and newly born infants, or when a long time monitoring is needed. This paper describes a preliminary theoretical investigation about the possibility of using an electromagnetic approach, already successfully tested for respiration monitoring, to detect the heart activity of a human subject in indoor environments. In particular, the electromagnetic model presented has been implemented to investigate the physical mechanism of interaction between the heart movement and an electromagnetic wave impinging on the human chest and to find out what is possible to observe from the outside without any electrodes.