Contactless Carotid Pulse Measurement Using Continuous Wave Radar

Cardiovascular diseases are one of the major causes of death. Regular checkups and preventive actions can drastically help reducing fatal incidences. This can be achieved by monitoring the carotid artery or rather the carotid pulse signal. Commonly, ultrasound devices are used for that purpose. However, these devices are costly, mostly stationary and their usage requires training and experience. This paper investigates the possible usage of radar systems as a contactless and low-cost alternative for carotid pulse measurements. Theoretical investigations reveal a linear relationship between the measurands of both devices and synchronous recordings from three test persons further confirm the feasibility of using radar systems as a potential device for monitoring cardiovascular diseases.