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. 2025 Aug 27;25(17):5321.
doi: 10.3390/s25175321.

SMART MAT: Fibre Optic Innovation for Bedside Monitoring and Validation of Continuous Vital Signs

Jace L A Ng  1 , Ahmad Azeem Bin Noordin  1 , Clare W M Chan  1 , Jael Chew  1 , Clarissa W Q Lim  1 , Nikhil T Sanghavi  1 , Omar Arif Bin Mohamed Murat  1 , Hao Wen Tan  1 , Lyn S Yeo  1 , Esther M Y Yow  1 , Meredith T Yeung  1
Affiliations

SMART MAT: Fibre Optic Innovation for Bedside Monitoring and Validation of Continuous Vital Signs

Jace L A Ng et al. Sensors (Basel). .

Abstract

Vital sign monitoring is fundamental to patient care. Although traditional intermittent systems are flawed, barriers to implementing continuous monitoring systems remain. The SMART MAT is a novel continuous monitoring device that detects vital signs remotely via fibre optic technology. The study aims to validate the SMART MAT and its paired devices against gold/clinical standard measurements for measuring heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and oxygen saturation (SpO2). Healthy adults aged 21 to 80 were recruited for this cross-sectional study. Participants rested supine on a standardised mattress with the SMART MAT below. Vital signs were recorded over three five-minute intervals. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, two-way ANOVA, Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE), and Bland-Altman plots. Among 321 participants recruited, HR and most RR measurements saw non-statistically significant differences (p > 0.05). Statistically significant differences were observed for SBP, SpO2, and most DBP measurements (p < 0.05). Only SBP measurements exceeded the acceptable limits of differences. Effect sizes were small to negligible (n2 < 0.04) and MAPE values were <20%. The SMART MAT has demonstrated reasonable accuracy and validity in monitoring vital signs in healthy adults. Alternative paired BP devices are recommended to enhance SBP measurement accuracy.

Keywords: continuous monitoring; fibre optic technology; healthcare technology; patient care; remote monitoring; vital sign monitoring.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Form factors of the SMART MAT.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Working principle of the SMART MAT.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Application and set-up of the SMART MAT.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Actual set-up of the research protocol.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Compilation of Bland–Altman plots for heart rate.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Compilation of Bland–Altman plots for respiratory rate.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Compilation of Bland–Altman plots for respiratory rate.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Compilation of Bland–Altman plots for systolic blood pressure.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Compilation of Bland–Altman plots for systolic blood pressure.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Compilation of Bland–Altman plots for diastolic blood pressure.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Compilation of Bland–Altman plots for oxygen saturation.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Compilation of Bland–Altman plots for oxygen saturation.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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