Wireless LAN PC card sensing of vital signs

Abstract

Heart and respiration activity can be monitored remotely without any sensors attached to the subject, using the microwave Doppler radar principle. Implementation of this function using wireless LAN PC cards is described. Heart rate was successfully obtained with two minimally modified LAN cards each driven by a laptop computer, at a distance of 40 cm from the subject. This is the first demonstration of the use of a modified wireless terminal for remote sensing of vital signs.