Breathing sensor 'sticker' could help save lives

Currently, the standard way to check a person's breathing (or respiratory) rate is to manually count the number of breaths they take in a minute. This requires a nurse to be actively checking it. 

Now, a new device has been shown to be able to constantly monitor breathing rate. It is thought to be the first of its kind and could provide a crucial early warning system that could save lives.

The research, published in Sensors, was led by Nottingham Trent University, the University of Southampton (UoS) and University Hospital Southampton (UHS). Professor Neil White is Director of the Centre for Healthcare at UoS. He worked with Dr Harry Akerman, Consultant Anaesthetist at UHS, to deliver the study in Southampton.

Wearable ‘sticker’ device

Changes in breathing rate can often be the first sign that a patient’s condition is getting worse.

Now, researchers are developing a wearable device known as a Pneumorator. This textile-based technology can be worn on the chest like a sticker to monitor breathing. 

The device works even when not touching the skin. It could be wirelessly linked to a smartphone or tablet to alert healthcare professionals to changes in a patient’s condition. 

This work has been made possible by almost £1 million from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). It is being advanced within the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre. 

Early warning system

In this study, the device was shown to be capable of continuously measuring the breathing rate of volunteers within an accuracy of two breaths per minute. It included researchers from Nottingham and Southampton. The med-tech company Zelemiq Ltd was also involved. 

Dr Akerman said: “Respiratory rate is often the first physiological parameter to change as a patient is becoming unwell ahead of changes to heart rate, blood pressure, temperature and oxygen levels. It is also the only one of these that is routinely measured manually, and so is susceptible to human error. 

“We know that earlier detection of diseases is better for patients whilst also being cheaper to treat, so a device that continuously and non-invasively measures respiratory rate could be a great tool in the early detection of deteriorating patients.”

Testing it in a trial

The next step will be to test the device in a clinical trial at UHS, with the aim of achieving regulatory approval within the NHS. The device is low cost and could easily be manufactured at scale. 

Professor White said: “This wearable technology allows the measurement of respiratory rate over long periods of time, which is not achievable using conventional manual breath counting. 

“Trends in respiratory rate can therefore be recorded and observed, offering the potential for rapid interventions that can potentially save lives.”