Measurement of heartbeat, respiration and movements detection using Smart Bed

Assessment of sleep-stage patterns and sleep disorders with the conventional sensor system uses many electrodes and straps to record the physiological body parameters. This causes inconvenience to the person who undergoes the sleep study. Thus a contactless measurement system would be ideal for measurement of body parameters for sleep-stage pattern analysis. We propose a contactless measurement system called Smart Bed, to detect heartbeat, breathing pattern and body movements using load sensors installed on four legs of the bed. This method uses cardio ballistic force near the thorax region when blood is being pumped out of heart by the left ventricle, known as Ballistocardiography, to measure a heartbeat. A slightly slower frequency variation in the same thorax region caused by breathing effect is measured to get respiration signal. The body movement patterns are also detected along with the other parameters. These parameters have direct influence on sleep disorders & sleep-stage patterns. Conventional sensors are used to correlate the accuracy of detected parameters from load sensors. The Smart Bed can be used in home environment for long term monitoring without any supervision from trained professionals.