Abstract: An apparatus operable for monitoring physiological vital signs of a human body without physically contacting the body is disclosed. The apparatus includes a sensor operable to transform a movement and/or acoustical wave produced by the body into an electrical signal, a signal processor coupled to the sensor and operable to receive the electrical signal from the sensor and to process the electrical signal adaptively using wavelet correlator analysis. The signal processor provides an output signal indicative of the movement and/or acoustical wave producing the electrical signal. Typically, the apparatus can be used to monitor heart rate, respiration rate and related sounds, digestive system sounds as well as other physiological vital signs considered both essential and desirable for the evaluation of the health of a person.