A Tyndall National Institute research team in UCC, Cork, has created a non-contact microchip sensor that could be used to track the respiratory rate without having to touch the patient. It enables continuous monitoring of babies in cots, healthcare patients and others afflicted with various other respiratory problems including sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). It can also be used for early detection of sudden sleep periods of vehicle drivers caused by fatigue. The technology could also be applicable in monitoring patients at home, transferring data to the physician and paramedical personnel in hospitals. It monitors fitness and fatigue levels in people who are otherwise healthy. It could also be used in defense applications to track moving objects.
