Get a CheckUp in Your Living Room

By Beverly Burmeier

If you have difficulty getting in to see your doctor, you may soon be able to substitute your laptop or cell phone for an in-person visit. With the click of a button, a portable device built by University of Florida engineer Jenshan Lin sends real-time information to your doctor. Using miniaturized Doppler radar, the device can monitor breathing and heart rate.

Here’s how it works: High frequency radar waves bounce off your chest, scanning breathing and heartbeat movements. With an inexpensive embedded chip, PDAs or iPods could become transmitters of an image similar to an EKG—an easy way to keep your doctor updated. The device connects to a laptop that reads data and powers the module. The laptop displays the detected heartbeat and respiration. Lin expects the device to be manufactured soon and to sell for less than $100.