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INIZIO_TESTO_DA_INDICIZZARE

RESEARCH PROGRAM

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Research Units
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Scientific and education field classification
International Patent Classification
  • HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
      • DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (analysing biological material G01N, e.g. G01N33/48; obtaining records using waves other than optical waves, in general G03B42/00)
  • PHYSICS
    • MEASURING (counting G06M); TESTING
      • RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES [N: (for special applications, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. A61B, G01F, G01N, G02B; measuring dimensions or angles of objects G01B; navigation in general G01C; measuring infrasonic, sonic or ultrasonic vibrations in general G01H; measuring infra-red, visible, or ultra-violet radiation in general G01J; transducers per se, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. G01L, H01L, H04R; measuring direction or velocity of flowing fluids by reception or emission of radiowaves or other waves and based on propagation effects caused in the fluid itself G01P; measuring electric or magnetic variables in general G01R]; (detecting masses or objects by methods not involving reflection or radiation of radio, acoustic or other waves G01V; [N: time-interval measuring G04F]; aerials H01Q) [C9504]
    • SIGNALLING (indicating or display devices per se G09F; transmission of pictures H04N) [C9504]
      • SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS (signalling arrangements on vehicles B60Q, B62D41/00; railway signalling systems or devices B61L; on cycles B62J3/00, B62J6/00; safes or strong-rooms with alarm devices E05G; signalling or alarm devices in mines E21F17/18; lamps or shutters therefor F21; sensitive measuring elements, see the appropriate subclasses of G01; traffic control systems G08G; visual indicating means G09; sound-producing devices G10; radio or near-field calling systems H04B5/00, H04B7/00; selecting arrangements H04Q7/00, H04Q9/00; loudspeakers, microphones, gramophone pick-ups or like acoustic electromechanical transducers H04R) [C9504]
Geographical classification
Keywords
MEDICAL IMAGING; REMOTE SENSING; RADAR INTERFEROMETRY; PENETRATING RADAR; CARDIOLOGY; RESPIRATORY APPARATUS; CIVIL PROTECTION; TELEMEDICINE

Development and experimentation of microwave sensors capable of detecting heart and respiration movement for remote monitoring the health status of patients in a clinic environment, and for localizing people still alive buried by rubble or avalanche.

Università degli Studi di Firenze
Abstract
The use of a transceiving sensor operating at microwave frequencies for monitoring the human respiratory and cardiac activity has been proposed in the recent past in a number of papers. The signal was processed in such a way as to detect the movements of the heart, the thorax and the lungs. One advantage of this technique is that it is non-invasive and does not require a contact with the patient's body. The aim of this study is the realization of a sort of ‘no-contact stethoscope', with, eventually, the size of a conventional stethoscope.
A microwave non-contact sensor could result useful in a variety of cases, such as monitoring of patients with serious and extended burns, and monitoring of sleeping patients at life risk, like children suffering from SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), that is the third cause of infant death, and patients suffering from OSAS (Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome), that affects the 4% of the adult male people. Another important application of microwave sensors, suitably designed for penetration in depth, is location of people still alive but trapped under collapsed buildings, as unfortunately often it occurs after a devastating earthquake , or buried under a snowslide. In this cases, detection of vital signs as early as possible is decisive for salvation. Depending on the used frequencies, microwaves can deeply penetrate and could reveal the light signals of the cardiac and respiratory activity provided that the clutter signals >>>

Principal Investigator
Carlo ATZENI Università degli Studi di FIRENZE
Research Objectives
The aims of this project can be distinguished as technological, clinical and for civil protection.

Technological aim
The technical team submitting this proposal developed in the last years innovative design skills in the field of microwave radar sensors aimed at remote detection of millimetric displacements of large architectural structures and of landslides. These objectives were achieved in the framework of a PARNASO project, funded by MIUR (Italian Ministry of University and Research ) , whose scientific responsible was the coordinator of this research proposal.
The developed sensors were based on interferometric techniques making use of methods similar to those used for earth observation from space. The radar systems were based on the use of wide band CW SF (continuous-wave step-frequency) signals, controlled by a high-flexible processing software , allowing selection of working frequency, swept band, radar synthetic aperture and focusing parameters. As described further in more details, systems based on specific choices of these parameters made possible a variety of applications: the remote detection and measurement of millimetric structural deformations of buildings, bridges,dams; the monitoring of landslides at up some kilometres distance with millimetres resolution; the recording of dynamical vibration of structures like bridges excited by vehicular traffic with sub-millimetre resolution ; the survey of underground or intra-wall >>>

Timescale
24 months
National and international background
The use of a microwave transceiver for monitoring at a distance the human breathing and the heart beat was proposed in the past in a number of scientific papers [1-4]. The first experimental demonstration of the possibility of detecting the respiration movements by means of a microwave sensor is described in a pioneer work by Lin in 1976 [1]. The detection of life activities by means of microwaves is based on specific signal processing techniques able to reveal the motion of the heart, of the thorax and of the lungs. Such a sensor can be of great interest in the clinical field [2-4],where the possibility of implementing a "no-contact stethoscope" can be envisaged. Thirty years ago, however, the microwave technology did not appear ready yet to realize miniaturized low-cost instrumentation with adequate high frequency performance and reliability, so as to overcome the level of a mere scientific experience and to become a practical product. In the last years, however, the research of civil applications of radar has strongly grown mainly thanks to the stimulus of the space research.
Since the end of the eighties [5] it was proposed to use the capability of the electromagnetic waves to penetrate dielectrics, also with losses, in order to sense life signs of people located behind or under physical barriers (soil, wall, snow). The potential applications are of great interest. It must be considered the importance of early localization of survivors buried under the debris >>>