Measurement of Body Weight, Heart Rate, and Respiration Rate Using Microbend Fiber Sensor Integrated Air-Mattress System

Abstract

A bedridden patient is someone unable to leave their bed due to physical, medical, or psychological conditions, presenting significant challenges for body weight (BW) monitoring. Conventional methods, such as specialized weighing scales or integrated hospital bed units, are commonly used but are space-intensive, costly, and operationally complex. Emerging technologies, such as pressure sensors, show potential but remain underdeveloped and not widely accessible. Moreover, existing pressure sensors are not designed for simultaneous measurement of BW, heart rate (HR), and respiratory rate (RR). To address these limitations, we propose a novel microbend fiber pressure sensor integrated into an air-mattress system, capable of simultaneously measuring BW, HR, and RR without requiring patient movement. The system leverages air pressure changes within the mattress to detect these parameters. Experimental validation revealed that RR measurements closely matched manual scoring, with a low mean absolute error (MAE) of $1.8~\pm ~0.4$ bpm. HR measurements demonstrated an MAE of $1.4~\pm ~0.2$ bpm. BW measurements exhibited the MAE of less than 1.0% $\pm ~0.3$ % compared to electronic scales. This innovative solution is particularly well-suited for patients unable to stand or those requiring continuous monitoring of dynamic physiological data, offering a cost-effective, compact, and efficient alternative to conventional methods.