Intelligent Bed Sheet Detects Respiratory Patterns

Abstract

A new technology using an intelligent bed sheet made of fabric sensors is described as a novel advancement that supports wireless and continuous monitoring of vital signs without requiring wire attachments to the body. The intelligent bed sheet developed by Studio 1 Labs Inc. (Studio 1 Labs), can be used to support three distinct groups: i) healthcare institutions with human resource constraints, ii) caregivers who provide care for seniors, infants and children at home, and iii) independent seniors who prefer to age in place. This article describes two complementary research phases using the intelligent bed sheet to detect heart rate, respiratory rate, and respiratory effort. The first phase explores sensor validation from the intelligent bed sheet with preset respiratory conditions from high technology mannequins. The second phase involves a use case with healthy young adults comparing between physiological signals from the bed sheet with standard nursing protocols of manual counts and a pulse oximeter approved by Health Canada.