Project Abstract

Respiratory rate can be used as a physiological marker of health. There is currently a lack of an ergonomic, lightweight and low-cost respiratory rate monitor for use in the clinical and non-clinical setting. In the assessment of lung function, the gold standard is typically to use spirometry to measure Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) and Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1) to provide an indication of lung health.

However, some patients (such as the elderly or severely ill) find spirometry tests strenuous or impossible. Flexible strain sensors with high sensitivity can be used to accurately measure the chest/abdominal expansion/contraction in real-time. Flexible strain sensor measurements will be validated using a medical-grade respiratory belt sensor and spirometer.

The development of non-invasive, flexible strain sensors for respiratory health will allow clinical experts to offer patients a comfortable, affordable and reliable method to track respiratory rate and potentially provide a warning against a deterioration of patient health. This PhD project could pave the way for the development of MedTech that enhances the options available in terms of patient care.

Entry Requirements

A first-class bachelor’s degree (or its international equivalent), OR,
a master’s degree (or its international equivalent), in mechanical/biomedical/aerospace/electronics/materials engineering or in physical sciences.

1. Proven track record in planning and conducting detailed experiments.

2. Experience in computer modelling and coding, such as Python or Matlab, is advantageous.