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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Health & Science

BRIN Researchers Monitor Heartbeats Remotely Using Radar Technology

From Tempo · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Indonesian researchers at BRIN have developed a radar technology capable of monitoring heart rate and respiration without physical contact.
  • The system uses modified Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) radar to detect subtle chest and heart movements, with accuracy comparable to traditional methods.
  • This non-invasive technology aims to improve patient monitoring in various medical settings and potentially track multiple individuals simultaneously.

Researchers at Indonesia's National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) are pioneering a non-contact method for monitoring vital signs, utilizing radar technology to track heart rate and breathing. The system, developed by the Center for Telecommunication Research, offers a potential solution for patients in isolation or those with conditions making direct physical contact difficult.

The measurement results with radar are already accurate.

— Yuyu Wahyu, head of the research teamWahyu affirms the precision of the radar technology for monitoring vital signs.

Led by researcher Yuyu Wahyu, a team of five colleagues and several students have spent the last two years refining this biomedical radar application. They employ a modified QWR 1443 Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) radar operating at 77 Gigahertz. This frequency allows for high resolution in detecting the minute deflections in chest and heart cavities caused by breathing and heartbeats, all while using low power that is deemed safe for human bodies due to its bioelectromagnetic properties.

It is not dangerous for the human body because it is bioelectromagnetic.

— Yuyu WahyuWahyu reassures the safety of the radar technology for human use.

The radar system works by emitting electromagnetic waves and capturing their reflections. Sophisticated mathematical equations and software then process this data, isolating the signals corresponding to heart rate and respiration. The real-time results are displayed on a monitor via the internet. Wahyu stated that tests comparing the radar's readings to those from body-worn sensors showed only a negligible difference, typically a single beat per minute, which is considered insignificant.

The difference is thin, only one number, for example 96 with 97 for heart rate, which is not significant.

— Yuyu WahyuWahyu explains the minimal discrepancy found when comparing radar measurements to traditional methods.

Initial deployment concepts include mounting the radar beneath a room's ceiling, with patients wearing a sensor-equipped belt to reflect the radar signals. However, the team also plans trials in fitness centers, where the radar would be positioned in front of the individual. Future developments aim to enable a single radar unit to monitor up to three patients concurrently, with ongoing efforts to optimize both the radar hardware and its software. The current radar unit was purchased from the United States for 6 million Indonesian Rupiah (approximately $400 USD). The overarching goal, according to Wahyu, is to provide patients with more modern and high-quality vital sign monitoring, thereby enhancing national medical service quality.

Later, users can directly see the results on the monitor screen.

— Yuyu WahyuWahyu describes the user experience of the radar monitoring system.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tempo in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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