Four-Channel MM-Wave Radar Testbed for Neck vs Chest Cardiac Sensing

Motivation: Respiratory and cardiac gating are common in modern MRI, but require additional sensors in contact with the patient and the associated cabling. Goal(s): Our goal is to determine if CW mm-wave radar can act as a robust non-contact cardiac and respiratory sensor, with potential for gating in MRI. Approach: A 4-channel 24 GHz radar test bed is developed with a pair of neck radars and a pair of chest radars. SSA and ICA methods help extract waveform structure relative to an ECG. Results: The CW radars nicely separate breathing and heart rate with distinct features at the ECG QRS complex. Impact: MM-wave radar could provide a non-contact sensor of cardiac/breathing in MRI. Potential applications include non-contact gating, and independent vascular pulse or motion sensing for use in neuroimaging.