Radar sensing of heartbeat and respiration at a distance with applications of the technology

This paper describes a system capable of detecting the human heartbeat and respiration heartbeat without any physical connection to the subject. This system, called the radar vital signs monitor (RVSM) was developed by researchers at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI). Human heartbeat and respiration signatures have been measured at ranges exceeding 10 meters using the RVSM. During the 1996 Olympics, a variant of the RVSM was developed for the assessment of performance of athletes in the archery and rifle competitions. The use of the system for a telemedicine application is being considered. When elderly patients are incapable of attaching a vital signs monitor to their body when using a home telemedicine system, the RVSM should prove useful. Burn victims having no skin to which heart monitoring electrodes can be attached are also candidates for use of the RVSM. Use of the RVSM in security applications is also being explored. This paper discusses the developmental history and background of the system and the applications that are being considered for commercialization of the RVSM concept.