Monitoring and analysis of cardio respiratory and snoring signals by using an accelerometer

In this paper we present a system based on a sensor of acceleration for acquisition and monitoring of diverse physiological signals, by extracting respiratory, cardiac and snoring components inside the main source. Digital signal processing techniques used frequently in Biomedical Engineering have been used. The acceleration produced by the cardiac signals, the respiratory movements and the vibrations generated by the snores are detected with help of an accelerometer placed on the skin of the subject in not invasive way. The presented device allows the monitoring of several biomedical parameters: heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), Sympathetic, parasympathetic and baroreflex activity, respiratory rhythms and their variations (bradypnea - tachypnea), snoring and abdominal-thoracic efforts. A simple and effective method and device Ill is provided for helping to the diagnosis of Sleep Apnea-Hypopnea Syndrome (SAHS) and other breathing disorders.