In the context of home health care and well-being, the monitoring of biological indicators has traditionally been carried out with medical devices or personal wearables, such as pulse monitors or chest straps, which require active user interaction. These technologies provide accurate values, but they are not always practical and can cause discomfort or poor adherence, particularly among the elderly population. There is thus a strong interest in invisible monitoring systems integrated into everyday objects, which allow the continuous assessment of vital signs without interfering with daily routines. Considering the significant time that people spend sitting, the lower limbs – more specifically the back of the thigh – prove to be a strategic place for this passive monitoring, making it possible, for example, to incorporate sensors into chairs or sofas. Despite the potential of this approach, few studies have so far explored the measurement of vital signs from the legs; Most solutions focus on places such as the wrists, chest, or fingers.
Home / Publications / Publication
Home / Publications / Publication
NON-INTRUSIVE MONITORING OF VITAL SIGNS IN THE LOWER LIMBS USING OPTICAL SENSORS
Publication Type: Paper Abstract
Original title: Non-Intrusive Monitoring of Vital Signs in the Lower Limbs Using Optical Sensors
Article Publication Date: January 2025
Source: MDPI – Sensors
Author(s): Joana Simões, Regina Oliveira, Florinda M. Costa, António Teixeira, Cátia Leitão, Pedro Correia & Ana Luísa M. Silva
What is the objective, target audience and areas of digital health in which you fit?
The study aimed to demonstrate a new approach to non-intrusive and continuous monitoring of vital signs – especially heart rate (HR) and respiratory rate (RR) – from the lower limbs, namely the posterior region of the legs, through optical sensors. By integrating these measurements into a day-to-day environment (for example, in chairs or other everyday objects), the solution allows you to collect digital health parameters naturally and without imposing routine changes on the user. The target audience includes anyone who can benefit from continuous and non-invasive monitoring – in particular elderly individuals or those with regular surveillance needs – and this research falls within the field of remote monitoring and wearable systems and smart environments in digital health.
What is the context?
In the context of home health care and well-being, the monitoring of biological indicators has traditionally been carried out with medical devices or personal wearables, such as pulse monitors or chest straps, which require active user interaction. These technologies provide accurate values, but they are not always practical and can cause discomfort or poor adherence, particularly among the elderly population. There is thus a strong interest in invisible monitoring systems integrated into everyday objects, which allow the continuous assessment of vital signs without interfering with daily routines. Considering the significant time that people spend sitting, the lower limbs – more specifically the back of the thigh – prove to be a strategic place for this passive monitoring, making it possible, for example, to incorporate sensors into chairs or sofas. Despite the potential of this approach, few studies have so far explored the measurement of vital signs from the legs; Most solutions focus on places such as the wrists, chest, or fingers.
What are the current approaches?
Methods available today to measure vital signs on a continuous basis usually involve contact sensors, which require the user to wear or apply a device to the body. For example, photoplethysmography (PPG)-based systems used in smartwatches, bracelets, or finger oximeters can monitor heart rate and breathing, but are dependent on user buy-in and need to be actively put on and used. On the other hand, passive monitoring technologies integrated into the environment are under development – such as smart seats that detect heartbeats through vibrations or invisible systems with optical sensors embedded in furniture. Few previous experiments have sought to collect vital signs from the lower limbs, using, for example, PPG sensors integrated into toilet seats or toes; however, these initial experiments presented methodological limitations and less precision.
What does innovation consist of? How is the impact of this technology assessed? Or How does technology support this innovation?
The innovation of this study lies in the development of a monitoring system composed of two small optical photoplethysmography sensors discreetly integrated in the posterior region of the thigh. This placement takes advantage of the good blood supply in that area and the frequent sitting posture of users, making it possible to measure vital signs such as heart and respiratory rate in a non-invasive way. The operation is based on the principle of photoplethysmography (PPG): the sensors emit infrared light on the skin and detect the amount of light reflected by the blood vessels, thus obtaining the variation in blood volume with each heartbeat. By analyzing these “light oscillations” with dedicated algorithms, the system calculates in real time the heart rate (from the pulse peaks) and the respiratory rate (by modulating the PPG signal according to the respiratory cycle), all without the need for any action from the user other than sitting. To assess the performance and impact of the technology, the researchers conducted tests on 17 healthy volunteers (5 men and 12 women, aged 22 to 40), comparing the readings from the new system with those of reference devices: a chest strap measuring the breathing pattern and a commercial finger sensor (oximeter) for heart rate. Each participant remained seated for about 10 minutes in a seat equipped with the optical sensors positioned under the legs, while collecting data from the new system and conventional monitors. This experimental approach allowed the reliability and accuracy of the proposed solution to be rigorously evaluated under practical conditions.
What are the main results? What is the impact of these results? Or What are the results obtained? What are the main conclusions of these results? What is the future of this approach?
The tests showed that the developed system was able to obtain quality PPG signals from the lower limbs and to calculate heart and respiratory rates with a high degree of reliability. Compared to conventional sensors, the measurements of the device showed a strong agreement, with a correlation of r = 0.92 for heart rate and r = 0.77 for respiratory rate, and minimal mean errors (approximately 1.2 beats per minute and 0.9 breaths per minute difference in relation to the reference readings). This corresponds to a high accuracy — about 95.9% in HR measurements and 91.3% in RR measurements — proving the feasibility and accuracy of this form of non-intrusive monitoring. During the experiment, no risks or adverse effects associated with the use of the prototype were identified, and the readings closely followed the variation of traditional monitors, which confirms the robustness of the system.
In conclusion, the research demonstrated that it is possible to monitor vital signs through the legs reliably, paving the way for new applications of passive monitoring in the home context. It is noteworthy that the evaluation of respiratory rate proved to be more challenging (because it is not a physiological parameter measured directly, but inferred from the PPG signal), which requires more complex analysis processes to achieve greater precision. Some records had to be excluded due to signal noise caused by individual movements or factors, highlighting the need for future optimization. As such, future prospects include improving sensor algorithms and design to attenuate motion artifacts and refine respiratory rate detection. In addition, complementary studies will be needed with more diverse populations and in real scenarios of prolonged use, in order to consolidate the adoption of this technology in everyday life.
Would you like to know all the details?
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Home / Publications / Publication
NON-INTRUSIVE MONITORING OF VITAL SIGNS IN THE LOWER LIMBS USING OPTICAL SENSORS
Publication Type: Paper Abstract
Original title: Non-Intrusive Monitoring of Vital Signs in the Lower Limbs Using Optical Sensors
Article Publication Date: January 2025
Source: MDPI – Sensors
Author(s): Joana Simões, Regina Oliveira, Florinda M. Costa, António Teixeira, Cátia Leitão, Pedro Correia & Ana Luísa M. Silva
What is the objective, target audience and areas of digital health in which you fit?
The study aimed to demonstrate a new approach to non-intrusive and continuous monitoring of vital signs – especially heart rate (HR) and respiratory rate (RR) – from the lower limbs, namely the posterior region of the legs, through optical sensors. By integrating these measurements into a day-to-day environment (for example, in chairs or other everyday objects), the solution allows you to collect digital health parameters naturally and without imposing routine changes on the user. The target audience includes anyone who can benefit from continuous and non-invasive monitoring – in particular elderly individuals or those with regular surveillance needs – and this research falls within the field of remote monitoring and wearable systems and smart environments in digital health.
What is the context?
In the context of home health care and well-being, the monitoring of biological indicators has traditionally been carried out with medical devices or personal wearables, such as pulse monitors or chest straps, which require active user interaction. These technologies provide accurate values, but they are not always practical and can cause discomfort or poor adherence, particularly among the elderly population. There is thus a strong interest in invisible monitoring systems integrated into everyday objects, which allow the continuous assessment of vital signs without interfering with daily routines. Considering the significant time that people spend sitting, the lower limbs – more specifically the back of the thigh – prove to be a strategic place for this passive monitoring, making it possible, for example, to incorporate sensors into chairs or sofas. Despite the potential of this approach, few studies have so far explored the measurement of vital signs from the legs; Most solutions focus on places such as the wrists, chest, or fingers.
What are the current approaches?
Methods available today to measure vital signs on a continuous basis usually involve contact sensors, which require the user to wear or apply a device to the body. For example, photoplethysmography (PPG)-based systems used in smartwatches, bracelets, or finger oximeters can monitor heart rate and breathing, but are dependent on user buy-in and need to be actively put on and used. On the other hand, passive monitoring technologies integrated into the environment are under development – such as smart seats that detect heartbeats through vibrations or invisible systems with optical sensors embedded in furniture. Few previous experiments have sought to collect vital signs from the lower limbs, using, for example, PPG sensors integrated into toilet seats or toes; however, these initial experiments presented methodological limitations and less precision.
What does innovation consist of? How is the impact of this technology assessed? Or How does technology support this innovation?
The innovation of this study lies in the development of a monitoring system composed of two small optical photoplethysmography sensors discreetly integrated in the posterior region of the thigh. This placement takes advantage of the good blood supply in that area and the frequent sitting posture of users, making it possible to measure vital signs such as heart and respiratory rate in a non-invasive way. The operation is based on the principle of photoplethysmography (PPG): the sensors emit infrared light on the skin and detect the amount of light reflected by the blood vessels, thus obtaining the variation in blood volume with each heartbeat. By analyzing these “light oscillations” with dedicated algorithms, the system calculates in real time the heart rate (from the pulse peaks) and the respiratory rate (by modulating the PPG signal according to the respiratory cycle), all without the need for any action from the user other than sitting. To assess the performance and impact of the technology, the researchers conducted tests on 17 healthy volunteers (5 men and 12 women, aged 22 to 40), comparing the readings from the new system with those of reference devices: a chest strap measuring the breathing pattern and a commercial finger sensor (oximeter) for heart rate. Each participant remained seated for about 10 minutes in a seat equipped with the optical sensors positioned under the legs, while collecting data from the new system and conventional monitors. This experimental approach allowed the reliability and accuracy of the proposed solution to be rigorously evaluated under practical conditions.
What are the main results? What is the impact of these results? Or What are the results obtained? What are the main conclusions of these results? What is the future of this approach?
The tests showed that the developed system was able to obtain quality PPG signals from the lower limbs and to calculate heart and respiratory rates with a high degree of reliability. Compared to conventional sensors, the measurements of the device showed a strong agreement, with a correlation of r = 0.92 for heart rate and r = 0.77 for respiratory rate, and minimal mean errors (approximately 1.2 beats per minute and 0.9 breaths per minute difference in relation to the reference readings). This corresponds to a high accuracy — about 95.9% in HR measurements and 91.3% in RR measurements — proving the feasibility and accuracy of this form of non-intrusive monitoring. During the experiment, no risks or adverse effects associated with the use of the prototype were identified, and the readings closely followed the variation of traditional monitors, which confirms the robustness of the system.
In conclusion, the research demonstrated that it is possible to monitor vital signs through the legs reliably, paving the way for new applications of passive monitoring in the home context. It is noteworthy that the evaluation of respiratory rate proved to be more challenging (because it is not a physiological parameter measured directly, but inferred from the PPG signal), which requires more complex analysis processes to achieve greater precision. Some records had to be excluded due to signal noise caused by individual movements or factors, highlighting the need for future optimization. As such, future prospects include improving sensor algorithms and design to attenuate motion artifacts and refine respiratory rate detection. In addition, complementary studies will be needed with more diverse populations and in real scenarios of prolonged use, in order to consolidate the adoption of this technology in everyday life.
Would you like to know all the details?
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In recent years, digital transformation in healthcare has played a crucial role, driven by the exponential increase in medical data. This ranges from administrative information to detailed records of diagnoses, laboratory tests, medical images and…
ULS Almada-Seixal Revolutionizes With the Region’s First Surgical Robot
In recent years, ULSAS has been gradually implementing robotic systems, reinforcing its commitment to innovation and improving healthcare. Recently, the institution acquired a state-of-the-art robotic system, developed under the concept of an ‘immersive intuitive interface’,…
Online Intervention Aims to Prevent Anxiety in the General Population
Anxiety disorders are a global problem, affecting 300 million people worldwide and placing significant pressure on individuals and healthcare systems. In Europe alone, the economic impact reached 74.380 million in 2010, with 62.2% attributed to…
Rehabilitation of Facial Paralysis Through Virtual Assistants
Facial paralysis, defined by the inability to move one or both sides of the face, has an incidence of 20 to 30 cases per 100,000 people annually. This condition often causes facial weakness, difficulties in…
Detection of Anxiety and Panic Attacks in Real Time
The growing number of people with anxiety disorders, along with increased awareness of mental health, drives the need for new technological tools that provide remote and continuous monitoring of anxiety and panic disorders. Thus, the…
A Novel Approach for Robotic-assisted Tele-echography
Currently, robotic systems for ultrasound diagnostic procedures fall into two main categories: portable robots that require manual positioning and fully autonomous robotic systems that independently control the ultrasound probe’s orientation and positioning. Portable robots rely…
From Big Data to Big Decisions: How AI Stratifies Cancer Cases by Risk Factors
The CLARIFY Decision Support Platform (DSP) is a responsive web application designed to support decision-making in cancer care through real-time data integration and predictive analytics. Built on Big Data Europe, the platform integrates a variety…
From “Free Text” to Structured Clinical Data: the Foundation for Clinical Decision Support Systems
Currently, the practice of recording clinical information in “free text” offers flexibility, but hinders automatic data extraction, limiting the application of analytical models. Most records are unstructured, and the use of non-standard abbreviations increases ambiguity,…
Artificial Intelligence used in Depression Detection in Cancer Survivors
The goal of the FAITH project (Federated Artificial Intelligence solution for moniToring mental Health status after cancer treatment) is to remotely identify and predict depressive symptoms in cancer survivors using a federated machine learning approach…
Integration of SONHO v2 and SClínico Systems at ULS of Coimbra to Improve Healthcare Services
With more than half a million hospital medical consultations carried out in the first half of 2024, the ULS of Coimbra stands out as an institution dedicated to integrated, high-quality and patient-centered healthcare, with 8…
Elderly Care Ecosystem: an Innovative Platform for Personalized and Efficient Services
The Elderly Care Ecosystem (ECE) is an integration of various digital health technologies, exploring the areas of telehealth and predictive analytics. The goal of this ecosystem is to improve the quality of life for elderly…
Innovative technology that subconsciously relieves anxiety through a scarf
The SCAARF technology aims to offer an alternative method to alleviate anxiety symptoms in a non-intrusive and subconscious way. This technology is an innovative idea in the field of digital health and wearable technology, designed…
Digital Health Interventions: Equity in Hypertension Care for Everyone
Nearly half of all adults in the United States have hypertension, one of the leading risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and only about a quarter (24%) of those people have their hypertension under control. Studies…
Personalization and Technology in Diabetes Management
IPDM has significant potential to improve diabetes management and drive health system reforms to become high-performing, effective, equitable, accessible, and sustainable. Evidence and good practices inspire health system transformation. Adopting person-centred approaches like co-creation and…
Negotiations on the European Health Data Space Advance With the Participation of the SPMS
The European Health Data Space will be a common health data sharing system across the European Union. It foresees the use of data for purposes that benefit people and society. It will ensure citizens have…
Secretary of State Margarida Tavares Emphasizes Digital Innovation in Health Promotion
Margarida Tavares spoke at the opening of the conference ” O Digital na promoção contínua da saúde e do bem-estar”, organized by the Associação para a Promoção e Desenvolvimento da Sociedade da Informação (APDSI) and…
ARS Algarve Modernizes Radiology With AI and New Data Center
The radiology service of ARS Algarve has already performed nearly 29,000 exams using Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology. In recent years, there has been a significant investment in image digitization and data storage, as well as…
European Health Data Space: Unified Access To Health Data In The EU
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of digital services in health, but complex rules and increasing cyberattacks make it difficult to share data across Member States; the EHDS, based on several regulations, provides tailor-made rules…
European Commission Amends Digital Europe Programme With an Investment of €762.7 Million
The European Commission has amended the Digital Europe Programme work programmes 2023-2024, investing an additional €762.7 million in Europe’s digital transition and cybersecurity. The digital transition is the main work programme with a budget of…
SPMS Integrates the TEF-Health Initiative
SPMS participates in the TEF-Health initiative as a partner in a consortium composed of 51 entities from 9 European Union countries. This action is co-financed by the European Commission and has a duration of five…
FMUP Creates Inhealth Junior Academy for High School Students
The InHealth Junior Academy — Academia Júnior de Inovação em Saúde is an initiative of the Departamento de Medicina da Comunidade, Informação e Decisão em Saúde da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto (FMUP)….
SPMS Represents Portugal as Vice-president of GDHP
The GDHP is an intergovernmental organization in the digital health sector that facilitates cooperation and collaboration between government representatives and the World Health Organization (WHO). Its purpose is to foster policymaking that promote the digitalization…
Digital Transformation of Health at INCoDe.2030 in Tomar
The “National Digital Skills Initiative e.2030, Portugal” (INCoDe.2030) is an initiative that aims to improve the Portuguese population’s level of digital skills, placing Portugal at the level of the most advanced European countries in this…
Braga Hospital Evaluates Memory With Interactive Game in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple Sclerosis is known as a chronic disease of the central nervous system, with a wide variety of motor and sensory symptoms that can lead to work disability, socioeconomic burden, and reduced quality of life…
Neurosurgery Teleconsultation Wins Innovation Award
The aim of the BI Award for Innovation in Healthcare is to recognize innovative projects in the healthcare sector that improve the quality of life for the Portuguese people. In 2021, the specific theme was…
HealthData@PT: New SPMS Initiative for Health Data
Action HealthData@PT is launched in the context of the implementation of the European Health Data Space, and is an initiative approved by the European Commission under the EU4Health 2021-2027 programme. This initiative contributes to the…
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