Remote Monitoring of heartbeat through micromotion doppler radar

Project Title

Remote Monitoring of heartbeat through micromotion doppler radar

Project Area of Specialization Biomedical EngineeringProject Summary

Doppler effect is the apparent difference between the frequency at which waves leave a source and that at which they reach an observer, caused by the observer’s relative motion and the wave source. When a radar transmits an electromagnetic signal to a target, the signal interacts with the target and returns to the radar. The Doppler frequency is positive or negative depending on whether the target is approaching or receding. The change in frequency is proportional to the radial velocity of the target.

If the target or any structure on the target has mechanical vibration or rotation in addition to its bulk translation, it might induce a frequency modulation on the returned signal that generates sidebands about the target’s Doppler frequency shift. This is called the micro-Doppler effect and it is observed using a micro-motion Doppler radar.

Traditionally this technique has only been used in defense to detect the velocity of enemy aircraft’s missiles and artillery ammunition. With the advent of GHz frequencies combined with MIMO radars, the technique has found applications in the health sector for remote monitoring of ECG. An ECG (electrocardiogram) records the electrical activity of your heart at rest. It provides information about your heart rate and rhythm and shows if there is an enlargement of the heart due to high blood pressure (hypertension) or evidence of a previous heart attack (myocardial infarction).

A patient with heart problems requires continuous monitoring. Traditionally done ECG required sensors to be attached to the body to measure the heart condition. The main problem that arises is that these sensors restrict the patient's movement and need to be attached firmly to detect the heartbeat. A micro-motion radar overcomes this problem as it can be used to monitor the heart continuously without restricting the patient’s movement as it measures the heart condition wirelessly.

This device can also measure the heart condition of more than one patient at a time, therefore, reducing the cost of more machines and the technicians required to operate them, therefore, increasing overall efficiency. Continuous monitoring of the patient is difficult if he has a contagious disease and being in contact with him for a long time increases the risk of transmission. With this device, the doctor can monitor the heartbeat at a safe distance.

Project Objectives

• Thorough understanding of ECG plot.
• Thorough understanding of BladeRF micro xA9.
• Through understanding of GNU Radio.
• Thorough understanding of micro doppler motion radar.
• Transmit and Receive signals using BladeRF.through RF cable.
• Transmitting a signal through an antenna and receiving the reflected signal.
• detecting a moving target with change in frequency of the transmitted signal.
• detecting micromotion by oscillating a metal sheet.
• Implementation of micro doppler motion radar.
• perform human tests in a controlled environment.
• Extracting heartbeat rate and breathing rate using micro doppler shift.

Project Implementation Method

• Literature Review
• We shall use BladeRF.
• We will first study how the BladeRF work and find doppler shift by oscillating a metal sheet and receiving the signal back.
• We will then transmit high-frequency carrier towards patient using the receiver, if possible, with array and extract micro doppler shift in RF carrier frequency and relate that with the heartbeat of the patient.

Benefits of the Project

• if successful this device could be the alternative to an ECG machine. The ECG machine requires the probes to be connected to the patient's body which restricts movement. this is completely contact-free and doesn't require any probes to be connected.
• the ECG machine can also be used for only one patient at a time whereas this device could be used on more than one person at a time hence reducing the cost of many ECG machines.
• If this is taken further this device could be made precise enough to give the part of the heart which is malfunctioning and the doctors can then work accordingly for the patient.
• this can detect any abnormal beahaviour of the heart before the person himself feels it and the persons life can be saved.

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

the final deliverables will be a working model which can detect the heartbeat of a person.

Final Deliverable of the Project HW/SW integrated systemCore Industry MedicalOther IndustriesCore Technology OthersOther TechnologiesSustainable Development Goals Good Health and Well-Being for PeopleRequired Resources

Item Name	Type	No. of Units	Per Unit Cost (in Rs)	Total (in Rs)
			Total in (Rs)	78100
RF Cable	Equipment	1	22500	22500
Antenna	Equipment	8	1500	12000
Power Amplifer Tx	Equipment	2	7000	14000
Power Amplifer Rx	Equipment	2	7000	14000
Metal sheet	Miscellaneous	1	2000	2000
speaker	Miscellaneous	1	3000	3000
soldering iron	Miscellaneous	1	2000	2000
dummy loads	Equipment	8	700	5600
BladeRF portective caseing	Miscellaneous	2	1500	3000