Previously, using single-axis accelerometers, it has been proposed that
in conditions such as traumatic brain injury (TBI) the brain pulsation
signal characteristics change, potentially due to changes induced by the
impact to the brain. In this paper, we aim to validate the use of a
custom built embedded measurement system towards the analysis of the
head pulsation signals. The system comprises of several synchronized
high sampling rate 3-axis accelerometers and a simultaneous chest ECG.
In our case three accelerometers on the surface of human head are used
(in left temple, forehead and right temple), while the subject were in
supine position. To illustrate that a proper signal quality may be
extracted, we derive heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV)
from each sensor and each axis for each of five healthy male volunteers.
The results are reported against ECG as the ground truth. This study
will build ground for further clinical trial utilizing multi-axial
accelerometers to study both healthy and diseased subjects (e.g. TBI
patients).