New Approach on Cardiac Autonomic Control Estimation Based on BCG Processing

The work presents a biomedical instrument for unobtrusive heart rate variability measurement, using ballistocardiographyc (BCG) signal based on electromechanical film sensors (EMFi sensor). The ballistocardiogram acquired signals from subjects sitting on a chair is processed in order to improve its signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) using adaptive neuronal network filtering. The accuracy of beat-to-beat intervals detection using ballistocardiography was tested by comparing the heart rate obtained by simultaneously monitoring the electrocardiogram (EKG) and pulse frequency in young healthy subjects. The results show no statistically relevant differences between the heart rate obtained by BCG in comparison with EKG and pulse frequency measurement. By including wavelet analysis of the heart rate variability (HRV), the prototype system permits a more natural lifestyle monitoring of physiological parameters.