Development of wireless sensing system monitoring physiological information for healthcare in daily life

In Japan´s fast-aging society with a falling birthrate, it has become necessary to work on disease prevention and health maintenance. The availability of information about daily physiological state and activity makes it possible to judge the health condition and provide predictive diagnosis and treatment. A wireless sensing system for monitoring physiological information in the living environment was developed and its functions were evaluated. The system consists of ear-worn temperature sensors, thermo-hygrometers, skin temperature sensors, and an ECG sensor with accelerometer. Data could be obtained in daily life without restraining wearers´ movements using multiple networked wearable sensors with a reasonable battery life. The level of data loss in wireless communication was low making it possible to estimate physiological state, even though both the IEEE 802.15.4 radio and the low power radio coexist. The system was evaluated for the prevention of heat stroke and unwellness during exercise monitoring real-time thermal physiological state with ambient temperature and humidity. Experiments showed that the detection of the abnormal level of physiological data and its change was effective in judging the physiological state and giving a warning on the health condition in the context of activity and surroundings.