Estimating respiration rate using an accelerometer sensor

Breathing activity can be independently measured electronically, e.g., using a thoracic belt or a nasal thermistor or be reconstructed from noninvasive measurements such as an ECG. In this paper, the use of an accelerometer sensor to measure respiratory activity is presented. Movement of the chest was recorded by an accelerometer sensor attached to a belt around the chest. The acquisition is realized in different status: normal, apnea, deep breathing or after exhaustion and also in different postures: vertical (sitting, standing) or horizontal (lying down). The results of the experimental evaluation indicate that using a chest-accelerometer can correctly detect the waveform and the respiration rate. This method could, therefore, be suitable for automatic identification of some respiratory malfunction, for example during the obstructive apnea.