Respiration Monitor

Respiratory behaviour is identified as a very important predictor of adverse health events and Dr Helmer created a simples wearable device using his textile strain sensor to measure chest expansion during breathing.. Barwon Health, CSIRO, and Deakin University trialed the respiration monitoring band with ICU patients at Barwon Health University Hospital and demonstrated great promise for detecting meaningful respiratory rate as compared with conventional ICU equipment such as a GE CARESCAPE B850. The respiration band was also adapted to independently sense both respiratory and heart function and trialled in typical daily activities in the home and work place (e.g. seated reading/working/watching TV etc, walking, and sleeping). The vital sign signals obtained enabled a clear beat-to-beat characterisation of heart function synchronised with respiration and entrainment patterns consistent with heart-rhythm ‘coherence’ were evident in self managed stress reduction interventions. Further research and development to explore the wearable respiration monitors potential for use in sports applications is ongoing at Superinteractive Pty Ltd.