Design of a Low-Cost Portable Device for Respiratory Rate and Vital Sign Monitoring

This paper introduces a portable low-cost respiratory rate and vital sign monitoring device aimed at early symptom detection for respiratory diseases, including COPD, ARDS, asthma, COVID-19, lung inflammation, and infections. While access to effective and affordable healthcare is a global right, infrastructure limitations result in many untreated cases each year, a gap further highlighted during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. The proposed device tackles these healthcare barriers with a technology-driven solution, combining multiple sensors to independently monitor vital signs and support informed decision-making for individuals considering medical attention. The primary objective of this paper is to foster proactive healthcare management, with applications extending beyond the pandemic to various health concerns. Monitoring key indicators—respiratory rate, heart rate, SpO<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</inf> levels, and body temperature, the device empowers at-risk individuals to maintain awareness of their health. In a test conducted with 13 volunteers aged 22 to 41, the device demonstrated an accuracy rate of 92.3%. At an estimated cost of ${\$}$50, this portable monitoring tool offers a cost-effective, essential resource for early symptom detection, promoting a proactive approach to healthcare at home.