title: Low latency breathing frequency detection and monitoring on a personal computer.
abstract: We demonstrate a low latency respiratory/breathing frequency detection system that is fast (<5 ms), easy to operate, requires no batteries or external power supply and operates fully via computer-standard USB connection. Exercises in controlling ones breathing frequency, usually referred to as paced-breathing exercises, have shown positive effects in treating pulmonary diseases, cardiovascular diseases and stress/anxiety-related disorders. We developed a breathing frequency detection system which uses two pairs of microphones to detect exhalation activity, eliminate noise from the environment and stream the recording data via USB connection to a personal computer. It showed 97.1% reliability (10 subjects) when monitoring breathing activity in non-guided free breathing and 100% reliability (10 subjects) when monitoring breathing activity during interactive paced-breathing exercises. We also evaluated the breathing frequency detection systems noise elimination functionality which showed a reduction of 84.2 dB for stationary (white noise) and a reduction of 79.3 dB for non-stationary (hands clapping) noise.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia. matevz.leskovsek@fe.uni-lj.si
authors.forename: Matevz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leskovsek
authors.forename: Dragomira
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ahlin
authors.forename: Rok
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cancer
authors.forename: Milan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hosta
authors.forename: Dusan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Enova
authors.forename: Nika
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pusenjak
authors.forename: Matjaz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bunc
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D001945:Breathing Exercises; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008838:Microcomputers; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics / Q000502:physiology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012984:Software