Study of Electromagnetic Reflection Phase Detection Array for Non-Contact Measurement of Biological Signals

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K18307
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Pioneering)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 61:Human informatics and related fields
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Monnai Yasuaki 東京大学, 先端科学技術研究センター, 准教授 (90726770)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-07-09 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: テラヘルツ波 / 生体計測 / 光音響効果 / ビームステアリング / アンテナ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Biosensing is largely based on the use of electrodes and transducers that are attached to the body surface, which not only pose stability and reproducibility issues, but also limit their use in dynamic situations such as rehabilitation and sports. In order to avoid this problem, this study addressed a novel non-contact biosensing technology based on electromagnetic waves, mainly in the terahertz band. Specifically, we have developed a method for non-contact detection of minute vibrations on the body surface using terahertz radar and a method for non-contact generation of ultrasound waves inside the body using the terahertz acoustic effect, in parallel, to establish a technical basis for non-contact biosensing with high temporal and spatial resolution. In addition, we have established elemental technologies for controlling the polarization plane and increasing the pulse peak power to improve the signal-to-noise ratio.

Free Research Field

テラヘルツ波工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、生体信号を非接触にパターン計測するための技術を研究開発することで、例えば一瞬先の身体運動の推定や、筋疲労状態を計測してパワードスーツなどの制御入力として利用したり、リハビリテーションやスポーツトレーニングの負荷を調整したり、心疾患の兆候を早期検出したりすることを目指す点で社会的意義が大きい。また、要素技術が未だ不足しているテラヘルツ帯において、構造の工夫などを通してその課題を回避しながらレーダーの実装を進めたことや、一般にテラヘルツ波は水に強く吸収されるため体内用途には不向きと考えられていたものの、その吸収性をむしろ積極的に活用して超音波生成に用いた点などは学術的意義が大きい。