Wireless Communication Platform Based on an Embroidered Antenna-Sensor for Real-Time Breathing Detection

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Wearable Technology
• Sensor Technology

Background:

• Wearable technology is crucial for vital sign monitoring, especially for respiratory patterns.
• Current systems face challenges in user comfort, reliability, and data processing.
• There is a need for user-friendly, reliable wireless solutions for breathing monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and investigate a novel, compact textile breathing sensor for real-time wireless monitoring.
• To integrate an embroidered antenna sensor with a Bluetooth transmitter into an e-textile T-shirt.
• To assess the feasibility of using Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) variations for respiratory pattern detection.

Main Methods:

• An embroidered meander dipole antenna sensor made of silver-coated nylon thread was designed and integrated into a T-shirt.
• The sensor transmits data wirelessly at 2.4 GHz using a Bluetooth transmitter.
• The sensing mechanism relies on detecting variations in the RSSI signal, which is sensitive to chest movements during respiration.

Main Results:

• The antenna-based sensor successfully transmitted breathing signals wirelessly via Bluetooth.
• Respiratory signals were extracted from RSSI variations detected by a laptop.
• RSSI range changes correlated with different respiratory activities (normal breathing, speaking, movement).

Conclusions:

• The developed textile breathing sensor demonstrates feasibility for real-time respiratory monitoring.
• Standard wireless networks measuring RSSI via Bluetooth can effectively detect human respiratory status and patterns.
• This approach offers a comfortable and reliable alternative to existing respiratory monitoring systems.