Respiratory OBservation Using Ultra-Sensitive nanoTechnology

Imagine you're in hospital, recovering from an illness or surgery. Sometimes, even after you've been admitted, you might start to feel worse. This can happen if you develop a chest infection or other problems that make it hard to breathe. It's really important for nurses and doctors to notice these changes as soon as possible, so they can give you the right treatment quickly. Spotting problems early can make a big difference to how well you recover.

Now, nurses regularly check things like your temperature and heart rate. They also check how fast you're breathing. Your breathing rate is often the best sign that you might be getting sicker, but it's actually quite tricky to measure properly. The equipment they have isn't always great, so nurses often have to count your breaths themselves. This takes time and can sometimes be inaccurate, especially if you move or talk. We need a better, simpler, and more accurate way to measure breathing that also feels comfortable for patients.

That's where RespiraFibre comes in. It's a new, very small sensor that can gently attach to the oxygen mask or tube you might already be wearing. It’s designed to keep a close eye on your breathing. If it notices any worrying changes, it can immediately send a warning to the nursing staff. This study will first make sure RespiraFibre is comfy for patients and simple for nurses to use, then check how accurate it is, and finally, try it out in hospital wards to see how well it works in a real hospital setting. The hope is that this technology will give early warnings to medical staff, helping them to act sooner, provide better care, save lives, and perhaps even shorten hospital stays for patients.