Researchers affiliated with Chalmers University of Technology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, and the University of Gothenburg have developed a new contactless method for measuring breathing movements using RFID technology. The approach could offer a practical and patient-friendly alternative to traditional respiratory assessment tools, with potential applications in both clinical and home care settings.<\/p>\n
The system uses small, patch-like passive RFID tags placed directly on the patient’s body. Because these tags are passive, they require no batteries and instead harvest energy from a nearby RFID reader. The reader transmits radio waves that power the tags and capture their precise movements, allowing clinicians to monitor breathing patterns across multiple body locations at the same time, including the chest and abdomen.<\/p>\n
This simultaneous multi-point measurement is a key advantage over many existing methods, as it gives a more complete picture of how the respiratory system is functioning during each breath cycle.<\/p>\n
Conventional methods for assessing lung function often rely on imaging technologies such as X-rays and CT scans. These require dedicated hospital equipment, can expose patients to ionising radiation, and are not suitable for continuous or long-term monitoring outside a clinical environment.<\/p>\n
The RFID-based approach sidesteps many of these drawbacks. It is wireless, portable, safe for repeated use, and does not require complex installation. This makes it particularly well suited for patients who need ongoing respiratory monitoring, such as those recovering from lung surgery or managing chronic respiratory conditions.<\/p>\n
Xuezhi Zeng, Associate Professor at Chalmers’ Department of Electrical Engineering, described the goal clearly: “The goal is to enable more personalised and evidence-based rehabilitation” for patients in these groups.<\/p>\n
Initial testing was carried out at the simulation centre at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, where a commercial RFID reader system was used alongside a medical mannequin fitted with RFID tags on the chest. The results were promising, with the system successfully detecting even minor variations in movement between different measurement points on the body surface.<\/p>\n
The study has been published in IEEE Access and received funding from Chalmers’ Area of Advance Health Engineering.<\/p>\n
The research team is now working toward developing a custom-designed prototype specifically intended for clinical use. According to Zeng, the team hopes to begin testing the prototype on real patients within five years.<\/p>\n
Looking further ahead, the long-term vision includes enabling continuous respiratory monitoring in the home. This could allow healthcare providers to detect early signs of respiratory deterioration in at-risk patients before a condition becomes serious, potentially speeding up the time to diagnosis and treatment.<\/p>\n
For the many patients living with chronic lung disease or recovering from thoracic surgery, a lightweight, wearable, battery-free monitoring system could represent a significant improvement in quality of care and independence from hospital settings.<\/p>\n