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  • Dynamic digital signal processing algorithm for vital signs extraction in continuous-wave radars
    Publication . Gouveia, Carolina; Albuquerque, Daniel; Vieira, José; Pinho, Pedro
    Radar systems have been widely explored as a monitoring tool able to assess the subject's vital signs remotely. However, their implementation in real application scenarios is not straightforward. Received signals encompass parasitic reflections that occur in the monitoring environment. Generally, those parasitic components, often treated as a complex DC (CDC) offsets, must be removed in order to correctly extract the bio-signals information. Fitting methods can be used, but their implementation were revealed to be challenging when bio-signals are weak or when these parasitic reflections arise from non-static targets, changing the CDC offset properties over time. In this work, we propose a dynamic digital signal processing algorithm to extract the vital signs from radar systems. This algorithm includes a novel arc fitting method to estimate the CDC offsets on the received signal. The method revealed being robust to weaker signals, presenting a success rate of 95%, irrespective of the considered monitoring conditions. Furthermore, the proposed algorithm is able to adapt to slow changes in the propagation environment.
  • Limits of WPT through the human body using Radio Frequency
    Publication . Duarte, Rodrigo; Gouveia, Carolina; Pinho, Pedro; Albuquerque, Daniel
    Recently, the medical community has been devel oping new technologies to enhance medical treatments and diagnosis means, having in mind the patients’ comfort and safety. Implantable medical devices are an example of such solutions. Nonetheless, these devices present some disadvantages, namely need of batteries. Hence, these implants have a limited lifetime, and require periodical surgical interventions to change or to recharge. In order to solve this problem, systems based on Radio Frequency (RF) has been developed to transfer energy inside the organism. However, transmitting power to inside the human body must be performed carefully, since high power levels might be prejudicial to the subject. In this context, the goal of this work is to study the performance of the Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) to inside the human body, while respecting the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) limits. Therefore, the levels of absorbed power in different body parts were verified by simulation, in order to reach conclusions about the user’s safety. More specifically, two biological models that represent the thigh and the arm were considered. The simulation results led us to conclude that it is possible to transmit approximately 140 mW on the limbs location, while respecting the SAR limits. In turn, it is possible to receive a power superior to 93 µW inside the human body. Additionally, real tests were also carried out in three subjects to verify the power attenuation related to each body structure.