Collaborative Research: Microwave Stethoscope: A Novel Non-Invasive Microwave Sensor for Monitoring Human Vital Signs

电信电路和系统中心（C1）提案#1127956提案#1127926本提案寻求分别位于夏威夷大学和亚利桑那州立大学的电信电路和系统中心（C1）的资金。基础研究的请求由NSF批准的招标（NSF 10-601）授权。征集邀请I/UCRC提交支持行业定义的基础研究的提案。 该提案要求美国国家科学基金会资助开发一种新型低成本、高度集成的基于微波的生命体征监测设备，即“微波听诊器”，可以在对患者造成最小不适的情况下连续收集人体生命体征数据。要测量的生命体征包括心率、呼吸率、每搏输出量和肺含水量。肺中的水分布的估计也提出了通过使用这样的喷头阵列与阵列数字信号处理（DSP）算法的适当发展。这种微波传感器连同紧凑、低成本、低功率接收器电路和相关联的DSP算法的开发将允许该设备的移动的使用，并在医疗保健患者监测、学校学生筛查以及各种军事应用中打开广泛的应用领域。该项目的成功完成将有助于改善偏远和贫困社区的医疗保健，并支持各种现场和紧急军事应用。所开发的硬件平台可以作为进一步疾病诊断的研究工具。该项目将使毫米波集成电路用于高精度的人体健康监测，并为包括流行病学家，儿科医生和家庭医生在内的广泛的医生提供新的诊断工具。

Center for Telecommunication Circuits and Systems (C1) Proposal #1127956 Proposal #1127926 This proposal seeks funding for the Center for Telecommunication Circuits and Systems (C1) located at the University of Hawaii site and the Arizona State University site, respectively. Requests for Fundamental Research are authorized by an NSF approved solicitation, NSF 10-601. The solicitation invites I/UCRCs to submit proposals for support of industry-defined fundamental research. This proposal requests NSF funding to develop a novel low-cost and highly integrated microwave based vital signs monitoring device, namely a "microwave stethoscope," that can continuously collect human vital sign data with minimal discomfort to the patient. The vital signs to be measured include the heart rate, breathing rate, stroke volume, and lung water content. The estimation of water distribution in the lungs is also proposed through the use of an array of such applicators with the proper development of array digital signal processing (DSP) algorithms. The development of such a microwave sensor together with the compact, low-cost, low power receiver circuitry and the associated DSP algorithms will allow the mobile use of the device and open broad areas of applications in healthcare patient monitoring, screening of school students, as well as variety of military applications. Successful completion of this project will enable improving healthcare in remote and under privileged communities, and in supporting a variety of in-field and emergency military applications. The developed hardware platform can be an investigative tool for further illness diagnosis. This project will enable use of millimeter wave integrated circuits for high accuracy monitoring of human health, and provides a new diagnosis tool to a wide array of medical doctors including epidemiologists, pediatricians, and family physicians.