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Updated: Dec 24, 2025
Investigation into Deep Breathing through Measurement of Ventilatory Parameters and Observation of Breathing Patterns
Published on: September 16, 2019
A novel minimal-contact biomotion method for long-term respiratory rate monitoring
Sarah Dietz-Terjung1,2,3, Jan Geldmacher4, Sebastian Brato4
1Department of Pneumology, University Medicine Essen - Ruhrlandklinik, West German Lung Center, University Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany. sarah.terjung@rlk.uk-essen.de.
Purpose:
In this study, we assessed the diagnostic accuracy of the device VitaLog (SWG Sportwerk GmbH & Co. KG, Dortmund, Germany) for estimation of respiratory rate (RR) variability.
Methods:
VitaLog is a minimal-contact biomotion device that is placed under the mattress topper. It senses respiratory effort and body movement using a piezoelectric sensor. Diagnostic accuracy was determined in 103 patients referred to our sleep laboratory for suspected sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). SDB was defined by AHI ≥ 15/h. Results provided by VitaLog were compared with nasal flow measurement obtained by polysomnography (PSG).
Results:
Diagnostic accuracy of VitaLog was excellent. We obtained a correlation of r = 0.99 and a bias of 0.2 cycles per minute (cpm) between VitaLog and PSG-provided nasal flow. Detection RR variability worked nearly identically in patients with and without SDB.
Conclusion:
VitaLog is an appropriate method for determination of RR variability based on a minimal-contact biomotion sensor. This device is easy to handle, available at low cost, and suitable for long-term monitoring in the hospital or at home.
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