6G-enabled Breathing Monitoring for Smart Patient Rooms using THz and RIS Technology

The CNI has presented a novel concept for patient monitoring in future 6G networks at the IEEE International Workshop on Mobile Terahertz Systems (IWMTS), which was developed jointly with our partners from University Duisburg-Essen within the scope of the BMBF 6GEM Research Hub’s Work Packages 4-5 on Joint Communication and Sensing (JCAS) and Terahertz (THz) Communications.

5G and beyond networks shall use millimeter-wave (mmWave) and sub-THz spectrum to overcome increasing network capacity demands. Changing propagation characteristics, as well as the usage of antenna arrays and more bandwidth, have since motivated on-going discussions about additional 6G network services based on native radar-like sensing capabilities.

Against this background, we have successfully proposed a patient monitoring concept for hospital campus networks. Here, we considered a suitable setup for breathing rate monitoring in patient rooms using a THz transceiver (TRX) and reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs). Overall, at least 3 propagation paths are required, featuring the line-of-sight (LOS) from TRX to patient and back to the TRX as well as multiple virtual-LOS paths provided by the RISs. Using the corresponding channel phase measurements and transceiver/RIS reflection angles along the line, the correct chest motion, and thus the respiration state, shall be assessed regardless of any possible user pose in the patient room. The algorithm for this is based on a previous work of the CNI that was presented at the GLOBECOM Workshops in December 2021.

For this purpose, our on-going joint research investigates hybrid network planning such that the network infrastructure, i.e., THz transceiver system and reflecting surfaces, are mounted at optimal locations.