Ballistocardiography sensor based on polymeric optical fiber: a frequencies validation study

Wearable monitoring systems have represented a breakthrough in monitoring vital signs such as respiratory and heart rates. These systems can collect information from the vibrations in the chest due to blood pumping and the movements generated by breathing, known as ballistocardiography (BCG). This work presents the development of a sensor based on fiber optics, developing a sensitive area with a viscoelastic material. The sensor validation was performed with an experimental setup in which heart and breathing movements were simulated. Three combinations of respiratory and cardiac frequencies were selected to evaluate the sensor performance. The sensor’s performance achieved an average success rate of 97% for pulse and 100% for respiration detection. It also demonstrated the ability to detect signal peaks at different magnitudes and frequencies. This makes the sensor attractive for further applications such as stress detection and evaluation of the response to several parameters to improve its performance.