압전 폴리머 필름을 이용한 소방관의 호흡률 모니터링

Abstract

Firefighters are always exposed to physically and mentally stressful environments resulting in three times higher death rate than any other occupations. Physiological signal monitoring for firefighters is critical and essential to protect firefighters’ lives because more than half of deaths are attributed to stress or overexertion including heart attacks, cerebrovascular events (stroke) or other types of cardio-respiratory system collapse. In current study, we have demonstrated that PVDF wearable sensor can monitor respiration rate successfully. The principle is based on the piezoelectric sensing mechanism to detect the periodical deformations on the chest wall of human body during respirations. For a fabricated sensor involving a 28um thick PVDF film, measured to respiration rate by making the simulator. Respiration simulator at 10 to 90 bpm can make respiration rate. Small changes in the electrical signal output to be punched in the PVDF film. As a result, changes in the length of 1mm were possible to output an electrical signal. PVDF film banding worn on the human body due to aerobic exercise respiration rate was measured. As a whole, this study has developed a PVDF based sensor which was capable of monitoring the respiration rate with high sensitivity. Other distinctive features include its small size, light weight, ease of use and low cost.