Cross-Body UWB Radar Sensing of Arterial Pulse Propagation and Ventricular Dynamics

Single-chip UWB radar systems have enormous potential for the development of portable, low-cost and easy-to-use devices for monitoring the cardiovascular system. Using body coupled antennas, electromagnetic energy can be directed into the body to measure arterial pulsation and cardiac motion, and estimate arterial stiffness as well as blood pressure. In the current study we validate that heart rate signals, obtained using multiple UWB radar-on-chip modules and body coupled antennas, do indeed originate from arterial pulsation. Through ECG-aligned averaging, pulse arrival time at a number of locations in the body could be measured with high precision, and arterial pulse propagation through the femoral and carotid artery was demonstrated. In addition, cardiac dynamics were measured from the chest. Onset and offset of ventricular systole were clearly distinguishable, as well as onset of atrial systole. Although further validation is required, these results show that UWB radar-on-chip is highly suitable for monitoring of vascular health as well as the heart's mechanical functioning.