A noninvasive means for monitoring respiration rate, heart rate, heart motion, and body movements in a reclining patient is under development. No sensors are attached to the patient; the patient reclines on a novel static charge sensitive bed (SCSB), while the above parameters are monitored without direct connections to the patient.The primary function of the SCSB is to monitor sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea. The specific aim of this research plan is to assess the clinical utility of the SCSB via controlled experiments in an established Sleep Disorders Research Laboratory. The experiments will involve, as subjects, adult patients being evaluated for sleep apnea syndrome. They will sleep on one SCSB while they are undergoing the standard polysomnographic assessment protocol.National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
