Accurate Spirometry with Integrated Barometric Sensors in Face-Worn Garments

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Wearable Technology
• Respiratory Physiology

Background:

• Cardiorespiratory (CR) signals are vital for assessing fitness, diagnosing medical conditions, and evaluating athlete performance.
• Wearable computing is widely used for real-time CR signal monitoring in various settings.
• Traditional spirometry requires specialized equipment, limiting its use in everyday environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the feasibility of using miniaturized barometers for accurate spirometry in a wearable system.
• To evaluate the performance of barometer-based spirometry against digital spirometers.
• To assess the potential for integrating this technology into off-the-shelf training masks for athletes.

Main Methods:

• Developed a wearable system using off-the-shelf training masks equipped with differential barometric pressure sensors.
• Conducted a comparative evaluation with a digital spirometer during clinical forced vital capacity (FVC) tests involving 20 participants.
• Employed mathematical modeling and regression analysis to establish the relationship between barometer and spirometer measurements.

Main Results:

• The barometer-based system demonstrated a low error margin of 2-3% for FVC vital capacity measurements compared to digital spirometers.
• The method accurately measured continuous tidal breathing air volumes with a 1-3% error margin.
• Barometric pressure sensors showed performance comparable to digital spirometers for pulmonary function testing.

Conclusions:

• Miniaturized barometers integrated into face masks can serve as effective tools for monitoring breathing airflow and volume.
• This technology offers a viable, low-cost alternative to traditional spirometers for both clinical and real-life applications.
• The findings support the use of wearable barometer systems for enhanced cardiorespiratory monitoring in fitness tracking and medical diagnosis.