Textile integrated monitoring system for breathing rhythm of infants

Abstract

Monitoring the breathing rhythm of infants during sleep can be life saving. But today, most monitoring systems lack patient comfort. In this paper an innovative biomedical monitoring system with textile integrated sensors is developed and tested. Monitoring breathing activity is used as a case study, yet, the platform is extendable by an architecture that can contain up to twenty modular sensor channels, divided in several sensor islands. It is therefore useful for all kinds of (biomedical) applications. Flexible carriers for the electronic circuit lead to better textile integration and more wearing comfort. Quantification of breathing rhythm and volume is performed by accelerometers. These breathing signals are calculated on the basis of the technique that the angle of the gravitation vector in the coordinate systems of the accelerometers changes, because of movement of the abdomen. Differential use of two accelerometers makes this measurement insensitive for movement and posture. The comparison of these signals with a spirometer yields promising results. © 2010 International Federation for Medical and Biological Engineering.