The same wireless technology used to track goods in warehouses or locate lost items could in the future be used to monitor how we breathe. Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, and the University of Gothenburg have developed a new contactless method for measuring breathing movements – with potential applications both in healthcare settings and at home.
Photographer: Chalmers tekniska högskola: Mia Halleröd Palmgren
Measuring respiratory function is crucial for diagnosing and rehabilitating patients with lung diseases or after surgical procedures. Today’s methods often rely on imaging techniques such as X-rays and computed tomography (CT), which require advanced equipment in hospital settings and may involve radiation exposure.
The new method instead uses radio-frequency (RF) technology, where small patch-like tags – known as RFID tags – are placed on the body. Using radio waves, their movements can be recorded and analysed, making it possible to simultaneously measure breathing movements from different parts of the body, such as the chest and abdomen.
“The goal is to enable more personalised and evidence-based rehabilitation, for example for patients recovering from lung surgery or living with chronic lung diseases,” says Xuezhi Zeng, Associate Professor at the Department of Electrical Engineering at Chalmers.
Providing a more detailed picture of breathing
By measuring local movements at multiple points simultaneously, the method can provide a more detailed understanding of how breathing actually works – something that is otherwise difficult to achieve.
In an initial proof-of-concept study, the technology was tested using a commercial system. The experiments were conducted at the simulation centre at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, where a medical mannequin was equipped with several RFID tags placed on the chest. The results showed that even small variations in breathing movements between different measurement points could be detected.
“There is a strong need in healthcare for flexible, reliable, and cost-effective measurement methods. This is an important step towards developing better tools for personalised rehabilitation, says Gunilla Kjellby Wendt,” Head of Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy at Sahlgrenska University Hospital and Adjunct Professor at Chalmers.
The study is a concept test conducted in a controlled environment, and the next step is to further develop the method for future clinical use.
Portable technology with potential for home monitoring
Unlike many established methods, the system is both portable and contactless. The RFID tags are not battery-powered; instead, they receive energy from an external reader, making the technology simple and safe to use without wires or complex installation.
This opens possibilities for use across different healthcare settings – from hospitals and outpatient clinics to patients’ homes.
The study is part of a collaboration between Chalmers and Sahlgrenska University Hospital within the framework of an adjunct appointment. By involving both clinical and technical researchers from an early stage, the work is grounded in real healthcare needs. This ensures high clinical relevance and is a key strength for future implementation.
Next step: custom-built prototype and clinical studies
To make the method more robust and reliable for clinical use, the research team will develop a custom prototype specifically designed for accurate and precise measurement of breathing movements.
“It will take a few years, but I hope that our prototype can be tested on patients within five years,” says Xuezhi Zeng.
In the longer term, the vision is to enable continuous monitoring in the home. This could contribute to earlier detection of deterioration in respiratory function and allow treatment to be initiated more quickly.
“If we can make advanced breathing analysis more accessible, it could have a significant impact on how we monitor and treat patients with impaired lung function,” says Monika Fagevik Olsén, Professor of Physiotherapy at the University of Gothenburg.
More about the research
The study “Localized Measurement of Breathing Movement Using RFID: Proof-of-Concept and Challenges” has been published in IEEE Access.
Authors: Xuezhi Zeng, Jiaqi Wu, Anneli Thelandersson, Gunilla Kjellby Wendt, and Monika Fagevik Olsén.
The researchers are affiliated with Chalmers University of Technology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, and the University of Gothenburg.
The research was funded by Chalmers’ Area of Advance Health Engineering.
For more information, please contact:
Xuezhi Zeng, Associate Professor and Teaching Fellow, Department of Electrical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden,
xuezhi@chalmers.se
+46 31 772 16 13
For more information, contact:
- Teaching Fellow, Signal Processing and Biomedical Engineering, Electrical Engineering