Radar-Based Radial Arterial Pulse Rate and Pulse Pressure Analysis

In this paper, we investigate the possibility of using remote sensing technique - radar to detect vascular flow changes in peripheral body part, wrist. Unlike computed tomography, X-rays, radars emit very low power, non-ionizing radio frequency signals, and thus have been shown to detect inner organ vibrations previously [1]–[4]. In our radar-based study, we show pulse rate and pulse strength/pressure as a result of radial arterial blood flow changes at wrist can be detected through carefully designed experiments, in which, we mimic reduced blood circulation such as blood clots in one arm by applying variable physical pressure to peripheral artery. Our proposed radar measurements are (negatively-) correlated with the sphygmomanometer pressure readings. Our results indicate that radar is a potential non-invasive sensing technology to detect vascular flow changes in prevention of peripheral artery diseases.