Sensors open new possibilities in patient monitoring and elderly care

Murata ultra low noise MEMS-based ballistocardiograms, stocked by Mouser, use MEMS accelerometers to continuously monitor heart rate without disturbing the patient. These sensors open new possibilities in patient monitoring and elderly care by utilising an ultra low noise and narrow noise bandwidth SCA61T3D MEMS accelerometer and analog signal conditioning. This combination of accelerometer and software allows for embedded heart and respiration rate signal processing with 1Hz output rate. The sensors provide vital sign information such as heart rate, heart rate variation, relative stroke volume, respiration rate and bed occupancy. The device offers good perspectives for application in preventive medicine such as detection of physical or mental stress or in early detection of coronary heart disease. The amplitudes of the waves are a measure of the heart's beat volume and indicate the general functionality of the heart as well as heart rate and variability through from the timing. This data can be useful in evaluating certain diseases such as aortic valvular disease or coronary artery disease and can even help in predicting life expectancy.