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本提案寻求为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)提供资金。基础研究申请由NSF批准的请愿书授权，NSF 10-601。征集邀请研究所/大学合作研究中心提交支持行业定义的基础研究的建议。这项提案要求美国国家科学基金会资助开发一种新型的低成本和高度集成的基于微波的生命体征监测设备，即“微波听诊器”，它可以连续收集人体生命体征数据，而对患者的不适最小。要测量的生命体征包括心率、呼吸频率、每搏量和肺水含量。随着阵列数字信号处理(DSP)算法的适当发展，还提出了通过使用这种涂抹器阵列来估计肺部水分分布的方法。这种微波传感器的开发与紧凑、低成本、低功耗的接收器电路和相关的DSP算法一起，将允许该设备的移动使用，并在医疗保健患者监测、对学生进行筛查以及各种军事应用中开辟了广泛的应用领域。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能够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学医生提供一种新的诊断工具。

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.