A CHINESE scientist is applying military-grade radar technology to healthcare, creating non-contact monitors for the elderly and chronically ill.

Gu Changzhan, an associate professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, has announced that Shanghai Hecaray Technology has developed several health monitoring products based on millimeter-wave radar. The startup maintains close ties with the university and is already making inroads into the medical sector.

According to Gu, who is also a company co-founder, the technology is well-suited to China’s rapidly aging population and the large number of people living with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Unlike traditional methods such as lasers or ultrasound, millimeter-wave radar works effectively in smoke, darkness, and high temperatures. It detects vital signs like breathing and heartbeat without physical contact, offering a key advantage: preserving patient privacy.

The underlying principle is the Doppler effect. The radar transmits electromagnetic waves and captures their backscattering from the human body, obtaining motion information on the body surface. This allows for non-intrusive acquisition of respiration and heartbeat data, as well as perception of human presence and movement.

The company has partnered with several Shanghai hospitals for clinical trials. Its products are already used to monitor sleep apnea, intermittent hypoxia in newborns, and chronic cardiopulmonary conditions. According to Gu, who specializes in radio frequency and microwave technologies, millimeter-wave radar delivers better overall performance and cost-effectiveness compared to other detection methods.

Current offerings include sleep monitors, vital signs monitors, fall alarms, and trajectory sensors. These have been sold to more than 20 countries and regions. Notably, all components — from chips to resistors — are made in China.

Gu shared the updates on the sidelines of the 6th Radar Future Conference, which was recently held in Qingdao, Shandong Province. The conference was jointly hosted by the China Radar Industry Association and Shandong University. It attracted over 1,000 professionals and 300 enterprises, featuring forums on the low-altitude economy, quantum technology, and AI.(SD-Agencies)