An Overview of the Sensors for Heart Rate Monitoring Used in Extramural Applications

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Physiological Monitoring

Background:

• Non-invasive heart rate (HR) monitoring is crucial for remote and home healthcare.
• Existing methods vary in their underlying physiological principles and sensor technologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of non-invasive HR monitoring strategies.
• To compare different sensing modalities for their suitability in extramural and home settings.

Main Methods:

• Categorization of sensing strategies based on physiological effects: electrical, mechanical, and peripheral.
• Detailed examination of electrocardiography, photoplethysmography, and mechanocardiography as representative modalities.
• Analysis of sensor characteristics and software algorithms for HR extraction.

Main Results:

• Each modality (electrocardiography, photoplethysmography, mechanocardiography) has distinct physical principles and sensor types.
• Software strategies are essential for reliable HR extraction across different sensing categories.
• Strengths and weaknesses of each category are identified in relation to specific applications.

Conclusions:

• The choice of non-invasive HR monitoring technology depends on application-specific requirements and constraints.
• This review offers guidelines for selecting appropriate sensing solutions for diverse monitoring scenarios.