The vital signs monitoring data of an infant receiving intensive care are a rich source of information about its health condition. One major concern about the state of health of such patients is the onset of neonatal sepsis, a life-threatening bloodstream infection. As early signs are subtle and current diagnosis procedures involve slow laboratory testing, sepsis detection based on the monitored physiological dynamics is a clinically significant task. This challenging problem can be thoroughly modelled as real-time inference within a machine learning framework. In this thesis, we develop probabilistic dynamical models centred around the goal of providing useful predictions about the onset of neonatal sepsis. This research is characterised by the careful incorporation of domain knowledge for the purpose of extracting the infant’s true physiology from the monitoring data. We make two main contributions. The first one is the formulation of sepsis detection as learning and inference in an Auto-Regressive Hidden Markov Model (AR-HMM). The model investigates the extent to which physiological events observed in the patient’s monitoring traces could be used for the early detection of neonatal sepsis. In addition, the proposed approach involves exact marginalisation over missing data at inference time. When applying the ARHMM on a real-world dataset, we found that it can produce effective predictions about the onset of sepsis. Second, both sepsis and clinical event detection are formulated as learning and inference in a Hierarchical Switching Linear Dynamical System (HSLDS). The HSLDS models dynamical systems where complex interactions between modes of operation can be represented as a twolevel hidden discrete hierarchical structure. For neonatal condition monitoring, the lower layer models clinical events and is controlled by upper layer variables with semantics sepsis/nonsepsis. The model parameterisation and estimation procedures are adapted to the specifics of physiological monitoring data. We demonstrate that the performance of the HSLDS for the detection of sepsis is not statistically different from the AR-HMM, despite the fact that the latter model is given “ground truth” annotations of the patient’s physiology.

Smart phones today have become increasingly popular with the general public for its diverse abilities like navigation, social networking, and multimedia facilities to name a few. These phones are equipped with high end processors, high resolution cameras, built-in sensors like accelerometer, orientation-sensor, light-sensor, and much more. According to comScore survey, 25.3% of US adults use smart phones in their daily lives. Motivated by the capability of smart phones and their extensive usage, I focused on utilizing them for bio-medical applications. In this thesis, I present a new application for a smart phone to quantify the vital signs such as heart rate, respiratory rate and blood pressure with the help of its built-in sensors. Using the camera and a microphone, I have shown how the blood pressure and heart rate can be determined for a subject. People sometimes encounter minor situations like fainting or fatal accidents like car crash at unexpected times and places. It would be useful to have a device which can measure all vital signs in such an event. The second part of this thesis demonstrates a new mode of communication for next generation 9-1-1 calls. In this new architecture, the call-taker will be able to control the multimedia elements in the phone from a remote location. This would help the call-taker or first responder to have a better control over the situation. Transmission of the vital signs measured using the smart phone can be a life saver in critical situations. In today's voice oriented 9-1-1 calls, the dispatcher first collects critical information (e.g., location, call-back number) from caller, and assesses the situation. Meanwhile, the dispatchers constantly face a "60-second dilemma"; i.e., within 60 seconds, they need to make a complicated but important decision, whether to dispatch and, if so, what to dispatch. The dispatchers often feel that they lack sufficient information to make a confident dispatch decision. This remote-media-control described in this system will be able to facilitate information acquisition and decision-making in emergency situations within the 60-second response window in 9-1-1 calls using new multimedia technologies.

El presente trabajo de investigación se realizó sobre la base de proceso de monitoreo de pacientes con alzhéimer. Para ello, se recopilaron diversas fuentes como testimonios de pacientes y familiares que permitieron identificar las tareas recurrentes en este proceso y los recursos asociados. En el análisis del proceso de monitoreo, se identificó problemas relacionados a los tiempos y costos que se generan. Asimismo, se identificó los signos vitales del paciente que son monitoreados con mayor frecuencia y las personas que intervienen en el monitoreo, los cuales son: cuidador y médico. Por otra parte, se realizo una investigación de las tecnologías que se usan actualmente para el monitoreo. En dichos estudios se establecen los mecanismos de supervisión del paciente; sin embargo, estos no brindan la información suficiente sobre el estado de salud del paciente. Después del análisis del proceso de monitoreo, se realizó una investigación adicional para determinar qué tipo de tecnologías permitiría optimizar este proceso. Asimismo, se definieron las variables de medición para identificar el impacto de la tecnología usada. Con la finalidad de obtener un resultado certero, se recurrió a cuidadores y médicos para saber la percepción respecto a la propuesta. / The present research work was carried out on the basis of the monitoring process of patients with Alzheimer's. For this, various sources were compiled such as testimonies from patients and relatives that made it possible to identify the recurring tasks in this process and the associated resources. In the analysis of the monitoring process, problems related to the times and costs generated were identified. Likewise, the vital signs of the patient that are monitored more frequently and the people involved in the monitoring were identified, which are: caregiver and doctor. On the other hand, an investigation of the technologies that are currently used for monitoring was carried out. In these studies, the mechanisms for patient supervision are established; however, these do not provide sufficient information on the patient's health status. After analyzing the monitoring process, additional research was conducted to determine what type of technologies would allow this process to be optimized. Likewise, the measurement variables were defined to identify the impact of the technology used. In order to obtain an accurate result, a survey was conducted with caregivers and doctors to find out their perception of the proposal. / Trabajo de investigación

The purpose of this project work is to make research on vital sign’s data collection and datapresentation on handheld devices. With the development of smart phones and tablets, more andmore people prefer accomplishing their daily tasks on mobile devices. Additionally, theawareness of personal health care increases at the same time. This report consists of three mainparts: analysis, design and implementation and system evaluation. By studying literature andsearching related works on the internet, general design guidelines are documented. The result isthat a prototype is implemented with the functionalities of data collection and data presentation.The system test and evaluation are also completed.

We hypothesized that the hoof trimming in sheep in dorsal recumbency implicates a short but intensive stress situation and that the sedation with xylazine causes a decrease in the stress response in this situation. Ten healthy female merino meat sheep were randomly divided into two groups receiving either xylazine hydrochloride (0.1 mg/kg body mass (BM) applied intramuscularly) or a placebo treatment with 0.9% NaCl. Routine hoof trimming was performed in a tilt table and vital signs (rectal temperature (RT), heart rate (HR), and respiratory rate (RR)), 33 different behavioral traits and blood cortisol concentrations were recorded throughout the experiment at six different time points (total of 55min). The procedure itself elicited a clear stress response (increase in the RR, RT, defensive movements, lip twitching, swallowing, and flight behavior). Parallelly, the blood cortisol concentrations were increased, reaching their maximum with 81.5 ng/ml in the control group when the sheep were tilted back into a standing position. In the sedated sheep, no increase in the RR and RT and a decrease in the HR were observed. In addition, the behavioral signs showed a decrease in flight, defensive, and general stress behavior (decrease in licking,movement of head and legs, and sitting on knees), complemented by the serum cortisol concentrations showing 2.28 times reduced concentration at the end of the procedure, compared to the control sheep. The results confirm our hypothesis and support the conduction of future trials investigating the feasibility and benefit of a sedation of sheep prior to routine hoof trimming under practical circumstances.

Yes / In English hospitals, the patient’s vital signs are monitored and summarised into a National Early Warning Score (NEWS). NEWS is more accurate than the quick sepsis related organ failure assessment (qSOFA) score at identifying patients with sepsis. We investigate the extent to which the accuracy of the NEWS is enhanced by developing computer-aided NEWS (cNEWS) models. We compared three cNEWS models (M0=NEWS alone; M1=M0 + age + sex; M2=M1 + subcomponents of NEWS + diastolic blood pressure) to predict the risk of sepsis. Methods: All adult emergency medical admissions discharged over 24-months from two acute hospitals (YH–York Hospital for model development; NH–Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospital for external model validation). We used a validated Canadian method for defining sepsis from administrative hospital data. Findings: The prevalence of sepsis was lower in YH (4.5%=1596/35807) than NH (8.5%=2983/35161). The c-statistic increased across models (YH: M0: 0.705, M1:0.763, M2:0.777; NH:M0: 0.708, M1:0.777, M2:0.791). At NEWS 5+, sensitivity increased (YH: 47.24% vs 50.56% vs 52.69%; NH: 37.91% vs 43.35% vs 48.07%)., the positive likelihood ratio increased (YH: 2.77 vs 2.99 vs 3.06; NH: 3.18 vs 3.32 vs 3.45) and the positive predictive value increased (YH: 11.44% vs 12.24% vs 12.49%; NH: 22.75% vs 23.55% vs 24.21%). Interpretation: From the three cNEWS models, Model M2 is the most accurate. Since it places no additional data collection burden on clinicians and can be automated, it may now be carefully introduced and evaluated in hospitals with sufficient informatics infrastructure. / The Health Foundation, National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Yorkshire and Humberside Patient Safety Translational Research Centre / Research Development Fund Publication Prize Award winner, April 2019.

Les approches actuelles pour diagnostiquer les troubles du sommeil sont lourdes, intrusives et peuvent influer sur la qualité du sommeil du patient. Il y a donc un besoin crucial de systèmes moins encombrants pour diagnostiquer les problèmes liés au sommeil. Nous proposons d'utiliser un nouveau système de suivi du sommeil non intrusif basé sur un tapis à fibre optique à microflexion placée sous le matelas de lit. La qualité du sommeil est évaluée en fonction de différents paramètres, y compris la fréquence cardiaque, le rythme respiratoire, les mouvements du corps, l’heure du réveil, la durée du sommeil, le mouvement nocturne et l’heure du coucher. Le système proposé a été validé dans un environnement de santé et de bien-être, en plus d'un environnement clinique comme suit. Dans le premier cas, la fréquence cardiaque est mesurée à partir de signaux ballistocardiogramme bruités acquis de 50 volontaires en position assise à l'aide d'une chaise de massage. Les signaux sont recueillis discrètement à partir d'un capteur de fibre optique microflexible intégrée dans l'appui-tête de la chaise, puis transmis à un ordinateur par une connexion Bluetooth. La fréquence cardiaque est calculée à l'aide de l'analyse multi-résolution de la transformée discrète en ondelettes à chevauchement maximal. L'erreur entre la méthode proposée et électrocardiogramme de référence est estimée en battements par minute en utilisant l'erreur absolue moyenne où le système a obtenu des résultats relativement bons (10.12±4.69) malgré la quantité remarquable d'artefact de mouvement produit en raison des fréquents mouvements corporels et/ou vibrations de la chaise de massage pendant le massage de soulagement du stress. Contrairement à l'algorithme complet de décomposition du mode empirique de l'ensemble, précédemment utilisé pour l'estimation de la fréquence cardiaque, le système proposé est beaucoup plus rapide. Par conséquent, il peut être utilisé dans les applications temps réel. Dans ce dernier cas, nous avons évalué la capacité du capteur de fibre optique microflexible pour suivre la fréquence cardiaque et la respiration d’une manière discrète. En outre, nous avons testé la capacité du capteur dans la discrimination entre la respiration superficielle et pas de respiration. Le capteur proposé a été comparé à un dispositif de surveillance portatif à trois canaux (ApneaLink) dans un milieu clinique au cours d'une endoscopie sous anesthésie. Parmi les dix patients recrutés pour notre étude, le système a obtenu des résultats satisfaisants quant à la fréquence cardiaque moyenne et quant à la fréquence respiratoire moyenne avec une erreur de 0.55 ± 0.59 battements/minute et de 0.38 ± 0.32 respirations/minute, respectivement. De plus, le coefficient de corrélation Pearson entre le capteur proposé et le dispositif de référence était de 0.96 et 0.78 pour la fréquence cardiaque et la respiration, respectivement. Au contraire, le capteur proposé a fourni une très faible sensibilité (24.24 ± 12.81%) et une spécificité relativement élevée (85.88 ± 6.01%) pour la détection de l'apnée du sommeil. On s'attend à ce que cette recherche préliminaire ouvre la voie vers la détection discrète de l'apnée obstructive du sommeil en temps réel. Suite à la validation réussie du système proposé, nous avons déployé avec succès notre système de surveillance du sommeil pendant plus de 6 mois dans treize appartements habités principalement par les personnes âgées. Néanmoins, dans cette recherche, nous nous concentrons sur un déploiement d'un mois avec trois résidents seniors de sexe féminin. Le système proposé montre l’accord avec l’enquête utilisateur recueillie avant l'étude. En outre, le système est intégré dans une plate-forme d’autonomie assistée existante avec une interface conviviale pour rendre plus commode pour les aidants le suivi des paramètres de sommeil des résidents. / The current approaches for diagnosing sleep disorders are burdensome, intrusive, and can affect the patient’s sleep quality. As a result, there is a crucial need for less cumbersome systems to diagnose sleep-related problems. We propose to use a novel nonintrusive sleep monitoring system based on a microbend fiber-optic mat placed under the bed mattress. The sleep quality is assessed based on different parameters, including heart rate, breathing rate, body movements, wake up time, sleep time, night movement, and bedtime. The proposed system has been validated in a health and wellness environment in addition to a clinical environment as follows. In the former case, the heart rate is measured from noisy ballistocardiogram signals acquired from 50 human volunteers in a sitting position using a massage chair. The signals are unobtrusively collected from a microbend fiber optic sensor embedded within the headrest of the chair and then transmitted to a computer through a Bluetooth connection. The heart rate is computed using the multiresolution analysis of the maximal overlap discrete wavelet transform. The error between the proposed method and the reference ECG is estimated in beats per minute using the mean absolute error where the system achieved relatively good results (10.12 ± 4.69) despite the remarkable amount of motion artifact produced owing to the frequent body movements and/or vibrations of the massage chair during stress relief massage. Unlike the complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition algorithm, previously employed for heart rate estimation, the suggested system is much faster. Hence, it can be used in real-time applications. In the latter case, we evaluated the capacity of the microbend fiber optic sensor to monitor heart rate and respiration unobtrusively. In addition, we tested the capacity of the sensor in discriminating between shallow breathing and no breathing. The proposed sensor was compared to a three-channel portable monitoring device (ApneaLink) in a clinical setting during a drug-induced sleep endoscopy. Across all ten patients recruited for our study, the system achieved satisfactory results in the mean heart rate and the mean respiratory rate with an error of 0.55±0.59 beats/minute and 0.38 ± 0.32 breaths/minute, respectively. Besides, the Pearson correlation coefficient between the proposed sensor and the reference device was 0.96 and 0.78 for heart rate and respiration, respectively. On the contrary, the proposed sensor provided a very low sensitivity (24.24 ± 12.81%) and a relatively high specificity (85.88 ± 6.01%) for sleep apnea detection. It is expected that this preliminary research will pave the way toward unobtrusive detection of obstructive sleep apnea in real-time. Following successful validation of the proposed system, we have successfully deployed our sleep monitoring system in thirteen apartments with mainly senior residents over six months. Nevertheless, in this research, we concentrate on a one-month deployment with three senior female residents. The proposed system shows an agreement with a user’s survey collected before the study. Furthermore, the system is integrated within an existing ambient assisted living platform with a user-friendly interface to make it more convenient for the caregivers to follow-up the sleep parameters of the residents.

Coma, estado vegetativo e sedação são desordens da consciência com diferenças clínicas em que ocorrem redução generalizada ou alteração no conteúdo da consciência, somadas a deficiências no despertar. Objetivo: analisar as relações entre as respostas vitais, faciais e de tônus muscular frente ao estímulo música ou mensagem em pacientes em coma, estado vegetativo ou sedado. Método: Ensaio Clínico Controlado Transversal Unicego para o pesquisador. Local da coleta: duas Unidades de Terapia Intensiva e uma Enfermaria de um Hospital Público de Ensino e Pesquisa. Procedimento de coleta de dados: pacientes com Escala Coma de Glasgow entre 3 e 8 ou Escala de Sedação de Ramsay de 5 ou 6 foram alocados aleatoriamente em um dos três grupos (experimental música, experimental mensagem ou controle). Os familiares gravaram uma mensagem de voz e escolheram uma música de acordo com a preferência do paciente. Foram coletados os sinais vitais, eletroneurografia e expressão facial dos pacientes nos períodos basal e durante a intervenção. Duas sessões de intervenção foram realizadas no mesmo dia. Após 30-40 dias da intervenção inicial foi aplicada a Escala de Resultado de Glasgow. Resultados: a maioria dos 76 pacientes em coma, 9 estado vegetativo ou sedados eram do sexo masculino, tinham entre 18 e 36 anos e foram internados por trauma. Encontrou-se alterações estatisticamente significantes nas variáveis temperatura, expressão facial, eletroneurografia e Escala de Resultado de Glasgow nas análises realizadas nesse estudo, além de alterações mais freqüentes na sessão 2, nos pacientes em coma e estado vegetativo, no canal 1 da eletroneurografia (músculo frontal) e no grupo experimental mensagem com valores médios e porcentagem maiores do que no grupo experimental música. Conclusões: Os resultados em relação aos sinais vitais são limitados e inconclusivos, o que dificulta qualquer inferência em relação a sua influência nas respostas dos pacientes com desordens de consciência em relação aos estímulos apresentados. A expressão facial e a eletroneurografia parecem ser variáveis mais confiáveis para avaliação das respostas desses pacientes, no entanto, mais estudos são sugeridos. / Coma, vegetative state and sedation are disorders of consciousness with clinical differences where a generalized reduction or alteration occurs in the consciousness content, coupled with deficiencies in waking. Objective: to analyze the relations between the vital signs, facial expressions and muscular tonus to the music or message stimuli in coma, vegetative state or sedated patients. Method: This study was a single-blinded transversal controlled clinical trial. Data collection: two Intensive Care Units and one ward of a Public Hospital of Education and Research. Procedure: patients with Glasgow Coma Scale between 3 and 8 or Ramsay Sedation Scale of 5 or 6 being randomly placed into one of the three groups (experimental music, experimental message or control). Their relatives recorded a voice message and chose a song according to the patients preference. The vital signs, eletroneurography and facial expressions of the patients were collected both in the baseline and also during the intervention. Two intervention sessions were performed on the same day. The Glasgow Outcome Scale was applied 30-40 days after the initial intervention. Results: the majority of the 76 coma, vegetative state or 11 sedated patients were masculine, between the ages of 18 and 36 and had been interned for trauma. Statistically significant alterations were noted in the variables of temperature, facial expression, eletroneurography and Glasgow Outcome Scale in the analyses performed in this study, in addition to more frequent alterations in session 2, in the coma and vegetative state patients, in channel 1 of the eletroneurography (frontal muscle) and in the message experimental group with mean values and higher percentages than in the music experimental group. Conclusions: The results, in relation to the vital signs, are limited and inconclusive, which complicates any inference regarding their influence on the responses of patients with disorders of consciousness in relation to stimuli. Facial expressions and eletroneurography, seem to be the more reliable variables for evaluation of the responses of these patients; however, additional studies are suggested.

Coma, estado vegetativo e sedação são desordens da consciência com diferenças clínicas em que ocorrem redução generalizada ou alteração no conteúdo da consciência, somadas a deficiências no despertar. Objetivo: analisar as relações entre as respostas vitais, faciais e de tônus muscular frente ao estímulo música ou mensagem em pacientes em coma, estado vegetativo ou sedado. Método: Ensaio Clínico Controlado Transversal Unicego para o pesquisador. Local da coleta: duas Unidades de Terapia Intensiva e uma Enfermaria de um Hospital Público de Ensino e Pesquisa. Procedimento de coleta de dados: pacientes com Escala Coma de Glasgow entre 3 e 8 ou Escala de Sedação de Ramsay de 5 ou 6 foram alocados aleatoriamente em um dos três grupos (experimental música, experimental mensagem ou controle). Os familiares gravaram uma mensagem de voz e escolheram uma música de acordo com a preferência do paciente. Foram coletados os sinais vitais, eletroneurografia e expressão facial dos pacientes nos períodos basal e durante a intervenção. Duas sessões de intervenção foram realizadas no mesmo dia. Após 30-40 dias da intervenção inicial foi aplicada a Escala de Resultado de Glasgow. Resultados: a maioria dos 76 pacientes em coma, 9 estado vegetativo ou sedados eram do sexo masculino, tinham entre 18 e 36 anos e foram internados por trauma. Encontrou-se alterações estatisticamente significantes nas variáveis temperatura, expressão facial, eletroneurografia e Escala de Resultado de Glasgow nas análises realizadas nesse estudo, além de alterações mais freqüentes na sessão 2, nos pacientes em coma e estado vegetativo, no canal 1 da eletroneurografia (músculo frontal) e no grupo experimental mensagem com valores médios e porcentagem maiores do que no grupo experimental música. Conclusões: Os resultados em relação aos sinais vitais são limitados e inconclusivos, o que dificulta qualquer inferência em relação a sua influência nas respostas dos pacientes com desordens de consciência em relação aos estímulos apresentados. A expressão facial e a eletroneurografia parecem ser variáveis mais confiáveis para avaliação das respostas desses pacientes, no entanto, mais estudos são sugeridos. / Coma, vegetative state and sedation are disorders of consciousness with clinical differences where a generalized reduction or alteration occurs in the consciousness content, coupled with deficiencies in waking. Objective: to analyze the relations between the vital signs, facial expressions and muscular tonus to the music or message stimuli in coma, vegetative state or sedated patients. Method: This study was a single-blinded transversal controlled clinical trial. Data collection: two Intensive Care Units and one ward of a Public Hospital of Education and Research. Procedure: patients with Glasgow Coma Scale between 3 and 8 or Ramsay Sedation Scale of 5 or 6 being randomly placed into one of the three groups (experimental music, experimental message or control). Their relatives recorded a voice message and chose a song according to the patients preference. The vital signs, eletroneurography and facial expressions of the patients were collected both in the baseline and also during the intervention. Two intervention sessions were performed on the same day. The Glasgow Outcome Scale was applied 30-40 days after the initial intervention. Results: the majority of the 76 coma, vegetative state or 11 sedated patients were masculine, between the ages of 18 and 36 and had been interned for trauma. Statistically significant alterations were noted in the variables of temperature, facial expression, eletroneurography and Glasgow Outcome Scale in the analyses performed in this study, in addition to more frequent alterations in session 2, in the coma and vegetative state patients, in channel 1 of the eletroneurography (frontal muscle) and in the message experimental group with mean values and higher percentages than in the music experimental group. Conclusions: The results, in relation to the vital signs, are limited and inconclusive, which complicates any inference regarding their influence on the responses of patients with disorders of consciousness in relation to stimuli. Facial expressions and eletroneurography, seem to be the more reliable variables for evaluation of the responses of these patients; however, additional studies are suggested.

La « vision » à travers les milieux opaques (murs, cloisons, décombres, ou plus généralement tout milieu qui occulte la vision humaine) est l’un des problèmes clefs du contrôle et de la sécurité. Il apparaît à l’heure actuelle un réel besoin de disposer de dispositifs d’observation à travers ces milieux pour des applications tant militaires (lors des assauts, des prises d’otages, etc.) que civiles (recherche de personnes enfouies dans des décombres, dans un incendie, etc). Les avancées sur cette problématique ont conduit à mettre en place des systèmes radars à très courte portée, opérationnels pour la détection et le tracking de personnes dans des environnements simples. Cependant ils nécessitent que les cibles soient en déplacement afin de les différencier des objets statiques. Cette limitation constitue un défaut majeur pour un certain nombre de scénarii réels où des personnes, par stratégie ou par contrainte, restent immobiles. Ces travaux de thèse visent à explorer les mécanismes de détection de personnes statiques par le biais de leurs micro-mouvements, e.g. des mouvements induits par le thorax lors de la respiration. Nous avons étudié - d’un point de vue théorique - les principes physiques sous-jacents à la détection de ces micro-mouvements par radar UWB impulsionnel à partir du mécanisme Doppler impulsionnel. Ce dernier s’appuie sur des mesures consécutives des phases des impulsions réfléchies. La compréhension de ce phénomène a permis de définir une architecture radar impulsionnelle et de la positionner, en termes de contributions, au regard des différents radars UWB proposés dans la littérature : le FMCW et le radar de bruit. Deux dispositifs radars ont servi de support à ce travail. Le premier, de type démonstrateur académique, repose sur l’utilisation d’un oscilloscope rapide pour numériser les impulsions UWB de 3 à 6 GHz de bande. Il a permis de mettre en place une chaîne de traitement complète de vision à travers les murs. Le second dispositif est un prototype radar développé autour d’une plateforme de numérisation ultra-rapide (100 Gsps par échantillonnage équivalent) de fréquence de rafraîchissement très élevée (100 Hz). Il est construit autour d’un FPGA, d’un ADC rapide (1,25 GHz) et d’un T&H très large bande (18 GHz). Il permet ainsi la détection des micro-mouvements par traitement Doppler impulsionnel. / "Vision" through opaque environments (walls, partitions, rubble, or any environment that obscures human vision) is one of the key issues of control and security. Advances on this issue have led to operational shortrange radar systems for people detection and tracking in simple environments. However, most of them require the targets to move in order to differentiate them from static objects. This requirement constitues a major shortcoming for a certain number of real scenarios where people, by strategies or by constraints, remain motionless. Hence, this thesis aims to explore the mechanisms of detection of static people through their micro-movements, e.g. movements induced by the thorax during breathing. We have studied - from a theoretical point of view - the physical principles underlying the detection of these micro-movements by pulsed UWB radar with the pulsed Doppler phenomenon, which relies on consecutive measurements of the reflected pulses phases. The understanding of this phenomenon made it possible to define a radar architecture and to position it, in terms of contributions, with regard to the different UWB radars proposed in the literature : the FMCW and the noise radar. Two radar devices served as support for this work. An academic demonstrator based on the use of a fast oscilloscope to digitize the pulses. It allowed to set up a complete processing chain for the application of vision through the walls. The second device is a radar prototype developed around a high-speed scanning platform (100 Gsps perequivalent sampling) with a very high refresh rate (100 Hz). This prototype is built around an FPGA, a fast ADC (1.25 GHz) and a very wide band T&H (18 GHz). This thereby enables to detect micro-movements by pulsed Doppler processing.