Earable POCER: Development of a Point-of-Care Ear Sensor for Respiratory Rate Measurement

Abstract

We have carried out research and development on an earphone-type respiratory rate measuring device, earable POCER. The name earable POCER is a combination of “earable”, which is a word coined from “wearable” and “ear”, and “POCER”, which is an acronym for “point-of-care ear sensor for respiratory rate measurement”. The earable POCER calculates respiratory frequency, based on the measurement values over one minute, through the simple attachment of an ear sensor to one ear of the measured subject and displays these on a tablet terminal. The earable POCER irradiates infrared light using a light-emitting diode (LED) loaded on an ear sensor to the epidermis within the ear canal and, by receiving that reflected light with a phototransistor, it measures movement of the ear canal based on respiration. In an evaluation experiment, eight healthy subjects first breathed through the nose 12 times per minute, then 16 times per minute, and finally 20 times per minute, in accordance with the flashing of a timing instruction LED. The results of these evaluation tests showed that the accuracy of the respiratory frequency was 100% for nose breathing 12 times per minute, 93.8% at 16 times, and 93.8% at 20 times.

Validation of Earphone-Type Sensors for Non-Invasive and Objective Swallowing Function Assessment

“…Because the device is small and lightweight, it can be used not only in hospitals but also in residences for older adults, home-based medical care, and nursing care facilities. Furthermore, it has been verified that the earphone-type sensor can measure mastication and breathing rate [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ]. The combined use of earphone-type sensors and other non-invasive devices may enable continuous evaluation of swallowing function.…”

“…We plan to conduct the same study for older individuals and patients with dysphagia. Furthermore, a method that can continuously evaluate the entire swallowing process in combination with the already verified measurements of mastication [ 20 ] and respiration [ 21 ] should be developed.…”

“…The earphone-type sensor is very easy to mount, and various information can be provided simply by inserting the earphones into the ear canal. It is a highly reliable apparatus that can allow measurements of mastication count [ 20 ], respiratory rate [ 21 ], occlusal force [ 22 ], mealtime [ 23 ], and tongue movement [ 24 ]. The earphone-type sensor developed for this study ( Figure 1 A) had a longer elastic region than conventional earphone-type sensors that measure mastication rate, respiratory rate, occlusal force, mealtime, or tongue movement.…”

Towards The Internet of Smart Clothing: A Review on IoT Wearables and Garments for Creating Intelligent Connected E-Textiles

“…There are sensors for monitoring heart rate, respiration rate, blood pressure, blood leakage, pulse oxygenation, glucose levels, galvanic skin response or electrodermal activity. It is also possible to use embedded sensors to obtain electrocardiograms (ECGs) and electroencephalographies (EEGs) [65][66][67][68][69][70]. • Location sensors.…”

Earable Ω (OMEGA): A Novel Clenching Interface Using Ear Canal Sensing for Human Metacarpophalangeal Joint Control by Functional Electrical Stimulation

“…Therefore, we propose an earphone-type clenching sensor interface for FES, unlike existing ones that require the placement of sensors around the mouth. We have developed an earphone-type ear canal movement sensor [ 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 ] and showed its application in measuring clenching occlusal force [ 42 , 43 , 44 ]. We use this earphone-type ear canal movement sensor, an earphone-type occlusal measurement device (earable (OMEGA)), for an FES interface to make the mouth free from sensors by measuring the clenching motion in the ear canal.…”