WiFi Signals Can Measure Heart Rate – No Wearables Needed

A truly Star Trek-type development that removes the need for wearable heart rate monitoring devices like smartwatches or chest straps, the new system, called Pulse-Fi, works by detecting tiny changes in Wi-Fi signals as they pass through the body. These changes are so subtle that they can reveal a person’s heartbeat, and a machine learning algorithm helps filter out all the background “noise” to provide accurate readings. The breakthrough could one day make health monitoring accessible to anyone with a Wi-Fi connection at home.

In tests with 118 participants, Pulse-Fi was able to measure heart rate with clinical-level accuracy in just five seconds, with an error of only about half a beat per minute. Remarkably, it worked regardless of whether people were sitting, standing, lying down, or even walking, and it was effective at distances of up to three meters. The researchers used low-cost hardware, including ESP32 chips costing under $10 and Raspberry Pi computer devices priced at around $30, showing that the technology is affordable and practical. More advanced Wi-Fi systems, like commercial routers, would likely deliver even better results.

The team is now expanding their work to see if Wi-Fi signals can also track breathing, which could help detect conditions such as sleep apnea. If developed further, this technology could provide a low-cost, non-invasive tool for continuous health monitoring, with major potential benefits for home healthcare and resource-limited settings.

To learn how Dr. Rath’s Cellular Medicine approach can prevent and correct irregular heartbeat conditions, see this article on our website.