Noncontact vital sign monitoring system for isolation unit (casualty care system)

Abstract

For measuring the vital signs of casualties inside an isolation unit, we developed a noncontact vital sign monitoring system using a microwave radar. The system was tested on eight healthy volunteers ranging in age from 30 to 48 years. The heart and respiratory rates derived by the microwave radar correlated with the heart and respiratory rates determined by electrocardiogram and respiratory sensor (r = 0.98, p < 0.0001 for heart rate; r = 0.84, p < 0.01 for respiratory rate). The exhaled CO and CO2, as a measure of trauma injury, were measured using an exhaled gas analyzer. The CO and CO 2 concentrations were found to average 3.8 ± 4.3 ppm and 2.9 ± 0.4%, respectively, The expired air temperature and body temperature, as indicators of hemorrhagic hypothermia, averaged 31.8 ± 1.7°C and 36.2 ± 0.4°C, respectively. The results show that our system is promising for future prehospital application in determining casualty conditions for fluid infusions by the Casualty Care System intravenous lines. Copyright © by Association of Military Surgeons of U.S., 2006.