RESPIRATION RATE MONITOR USING

PIEZOELECTRIC SENSOR

A TERM PAPER (PSG 485)

BY

FAKIREPO OLUWATOYIN (181453)

SHEIDU MOSES (182366)
BAMIDELE PONMILE (181069)
SHITTU OYINLOLA (180365)
BOLAJI DAMILOLA (180230)
FAGBEMI FAVOUR (182700)
ADELOWOTAN EBUNOLUWA (182985)

SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PHYSIOLOGY, FACULTY OF BASIC MEDICAL

SCIENCES,
LADOKE AKINTOLA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, OGBOMOSO.

IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF
TECHNOLOGY (B.TECH) IN PHYSIOLOGY

NOVEMBER, 2022
 ABSTRACT
 The monitoring of vital signs plays a key role in the diagnosis of
several diseases. Piezoelectric sensors have been utilized to
collect a corresponding representative signal from the chest
surface. The subject typically needs to hold his or her breath to
eliminate the respiration effect.

 This work further contributes to the extraction of the

corresponding representative vital signs directly from the
measured respiration signal. The contraction and expansion of
the heart muscles, as well as the respiration activities, will induce
a mechanical vibration across the chest wall. The induced
vibration is then captured by the piezoelectric sensor placed at
the chest surface, which produces an electrical output voltage
signal conformally mapped with the respiration-cardiac activities.

Keywords: Electrical and electronic engineering,

Characterization and analytical techniques 1
 INTRODUCTION

 Monitoring vital signs is essential for daily health and

medical diagnosis. Vital signs, such as
electrocardiogram (ECG) measurements, heart rate,
respiration rate, systolic pressure (SP), and diastolic
pressure (DP).

 The piezoelectric sensor was able to record respiratory

movements, seism-cardiogram and heart sounds.

2
 AIM AND OBJECTIVES

Aim
1. To study the mechanism in human respiration system.
2. Integration of piezoelectric sensor for respiration rate
measurement.
3. To understand the principles of piezoelectric sensor.

Objectives
1. To evaluate normality of human breathing patterns.
2. To transmit the respiratory rate reading (data)
wirelessly to consoles.

3
 THE RESPIRATION SYSTEM
 Breathing takes oxygen in and carbon dioxide out of the body.
Aerobic organisms require oxygen to create energy via
respiration, in the form of the metabolism of energy-rich
molecules such as glucose.

The Respiratory System

 The following organs are used in respiration: the mouth; the

nose and nostrils; the pharynx; the larynx; the trachea; the
bronchi and bronchioles; the lungs; the diaphragm; and the
terminal branches of the respiratory tree, such as the alveoli
(Helms et al…., 1993). 4
 NEUROLOGICAL CONTROL OF BREATHING

 The respiration rate of a patient has to be monitored

and measured for many reason. There are various
parameters obtainable from the interpretation of
respiratory rate of the patient. Some of the
parameters obtainable through this are apnea
measurement, pulmonary volume measurement,
pulmonary function indication and etc.

 The technologies used widely in this matter are

Inductive, Piezo-Resistive, Thermistor, Impedance,
Magnetic, Capacitive, Pressure and Optical. The device
should be able to record the patient’s respiratory rate
and chart it on the computer after data is transmitted
and received 5
 PIEZOELECTRIC SENSOR

 Piezoelectric sensors are used to sense movement or vibrations in many applications. A

piezoelectric sensor comprises a piezoelectric crystal which is typically mechanically coupled
to an object which produces a mechanical movement.

Cross Section of Piezoelectric Sensor

 This sensing principle was discovered firstly by Lord Kevin in the1856 and piezoelectric
effects are now commonly practiced. This principles are based on the fact that electrical
resistor may change in its resistance when being subjected by external forces (strain and
deformation). 6
 PIEZOELECTRIC SENSOR WORKING
PRINCIPLE
 Piezoelectric materials exhibit smart properties that make them
suitable candidates for use in biomedical devices. The mechanical
activities of the heart muscle and lungs induce a vibration inside the
chest wall. A piezoelectric cantilever placed on top of the chest
surface can collect such vibrations and convert them into an
electrical voltage signal. The diagram below illustrates a
piezoelectric sheet placed on top of the surface of the human chest.

Experimental setup: (a) placement of a piezoelectric sheet on the

chest, (b) piezoelectric bluetooth based system and (c) the
received data on System. 7
 CONCLUSION

 This study proposed a piezoelectric sensor-based

technique to extract and monitor the hold-breathing
signal from the breathing signal utilizing piezoelectric
theory and signal-processing techniques. The
piezoelectric sensor, which is placed on the subject’s
chest, is used to collect the breathing signals. The
piezoelectric transducer provides noninvasive and
contactless connections.

 The study outcomes revealed that the developed

technique is simple, reliable, and easy to handle.
Therefore, it causes minimal inconvenience to clinics
8
 RECOMMENDATION

 The proposed approaches for the extraction and monitoring of

multiple vital signs simultaneously can be utilized in several
applications. With further development and optimization it can
be used in the detection of heart failure, lungs and cardiac
abnormalities detection.

 Regarding the possible use of the information provided by

this sensing system, it could be applied to several fields
such as ambulatory health monitoring, home
treatment of respiratory diseases, detection of
alarming symptoms of faintness or fatigue in
machine operators or drivers, health condition
assessment, prediction and prevention of dangerous
health states, monitoring of physical activity, and
analysis of human emotions like anger and stress,
among others. 9