Multimode optical fiber specklegram smart bed sensor array

Abstract

. Significance: Monitoring the movement and vital signs of patients in hospitals and other healthcare environments is a significant burden on healthcare staff. Early warning systems using smart bed sensors hold promise to relieve this burden and improve patient outcomes. We propose a scalable and cost-effective optical fiber sensor array that can be embedded into a mattress to detect movement, both sensitively and spatially. Aim: Proof-of-concept demonstration that a multimode optical fiber (MMF) specklegram sensor array can be used to detect and image movement on a bed. Approach: Seven MMFs are attached to the upper surface of a mattress such that they cross in a array. The specklegram output is monitored using a single laser and single camera and movement on the fibers is monitored by calculating a rolling zero-normalized cross-correlation. A image is formed by comparing the signal at each crossing point between two fibers. Results: The MMF sensor array can detect and image movement on a bed, including getting on and off the bed, rolling on the bed, and breathing. Conclusions: The sensor array shows a high sensitivity to movement, which can be used for monitoring physiological parameters and patient movement for potential applications in healthcare settings.

Advances in Optical Fiber Speckle Sensing: A Comprehensive Review

“…From the 2010s, medical applications of FSSs, especially the topic of vital sign monitoring, became quite popular in the research community: human movement detection, and heartbeat rate and breath rate measurements [68,69,121,122]. Indeed, these measurands produce event-like (pulsed) signals that can be easily detected by FFSs with simple signal processing.…”

Sleep condition detection and assessment with optical fiber interferometer based on machine learning

“… 31 , 32 Optical fiber is the technology associated with data transmission using light pulses traveling along a long fiber, which is usually made of plastic or glass; this has been widely used in optical communication or other fields. For example, the step-index plastic optical fiber is suitable for high-performance fiber links at short distances, 33 the multimode optical fibers are widely used in smart healthcare, measurements, 34 , 35 and so on. Various techniques have been proposed to detect BCG signals in recent times, with optical fiber sensors (OFS) receiving significant attention based on their advantageous features such as light weight, high flexibility, and their robust merit to interference by the electromagnet.…”