Unconstrained and Non-Invasive Measurement of Heartbeat and Respiration under Snoring

Abstract

We previously proposed a measurement system of heartbeat and respiration periods using a phonocardiographic (PCG) sensor set on a water-mat or an air-mat. The system could measure not only the average periods but also the instantaneous ones of heartbeat and respiration when subjects were sleeping in beds without snoring.
This paper extends the system to enable the measurement of heartbeat and respiration periods even when subjects are snoring. Precisely speaking, the system measures the average heartbeat period and instantaneous respiration period by separating the output of the PCG sensor into heartbeat and snoring components.