Wireless Heart and Respiration Rate Monitoring in Birds Using Skin Mounted Eutectogel Coated Threads

• Published in: Advanced materials technologies Vol. 9; no. 17
• Main Authors: Riccio, Rachel E., Asci, Cihan, Zeng, Wenxin, Owyeung, Rachel, Romero, L. Michael, Sonkusale, Sameer
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 04-09-2024
• Subjects: ECG monitoring; eutectogel threads; heart rate monitoring; non‐invasive monitoring; small animal species; thread sensors
• ISSN: 2365-709X; 2365-709X
• DOI: 10.1002/admt.202400202

Animal‐borne biologging technology allows researchers to understand the physiological responses of wild animals, especially songbirds, to environmental changes. Songbirds are of interest in studying these responses because of their visibility and relatively small body size yet high energetic demand of their various life‐history stages (e.g., molt, migration, breeding). Previous methods for monitoring responses, such as heart rate activity, have relied on surgical implantation of electrodes connected to bulky electronic devices which affect the well‐being of birds, indirectly influence bird behavior and create stress artifacts. A non‐invasive, lightweight solution is needed. This study introduces eutectogels, a long‐lasting gel made from deep eutectic solvents, combined with conductive threads and a wireless device to monitor the heart rate of house sparrows noninvasively through skin contact. In this work, heart rate and respiration rate measurements are validated on birds under anesthesia. These tests are repeated on birds that are awake but restrained. The eutectogel outperforms commercial electrodes and gels, yielding high signal‐to‐noise ratio measurements on restrained birds. The respiration rate is extracted and processed electronically from motion artifacts in the recorded signals without the need for a separate dedicated sensor. The system shows promise for future field studies on free‐living species.
Here, a noninvasive heart rate monitoring system for small bird species through the interaction of deep eutectic solvents (DES or eutectogels) and the bird's featherless tract is reported. This system allows for long‐term evaluation of changes in heart rate without the need for surgical implantation of electrodes, optimizing for monitoring natural behaviors in natural environments.