Design and development of a non-invasive breathing monitoring system for asthma patients

Abstract

Asthma is a long-term respiratory disorder that impacts millions of individuals globally, marked by inflammation of the airways, bronchial constriction, and fluctuating airflow limitations. It is essential to monitor respiratory patterns in individuals with asthma for effective disease management, treatment enhancement, and timely intervention to avert exacerbations. Traditional methods such as spirometry and peak flow meters can be cumbersome, necessitating active participation from patients, and often fail to provide real-time data outside of clinical environments. To overcome these limitations, we introduce an innovative non-invasive breathing monitoring system specifically designed for asthma patients. This system incorporates a wearable sensor device that utilizes sophisticated signal processing algorithms to continuously track respiratory parameters in real-time. The device features non-contact sensing technology, which removes the necessity for direct skin contact or additional respiratory equipment, thus promoting patient comfort and adherence. The fundamental elements of the system consist of a respiratory sensor, a microcontroller unit, a wireless communication module, and an intuitive interface for data visualization and analysis. The respiratory sensor utilizes radar-based technology to identify subtle movements of the chest linked to breathing, facilitating precise and dependable monitoring of respiratory rate, tidal volume, and breathing patterns. The microcontroller unit processes the raw data from the sensor in real-time, employing sophisticated signal processing methods to derive pertinent respiratory parameters. The wireless communication module allows for effortless data transmission to a smartphone application or a cloud-based platform, enabling remote monitoring by healthcare professionals and tailored asthma management. Initial assessments of the system indicate encouraging outcomes regarding accuracy, reliability, and user-friendliness.