Ballistocardiography with fiber optic sensor in headrest position: a feasibility study and a new processing algorithm.

Ballistocardiography (BCG) is a promising unobtrusive method for home e-healthcare systems, and has attracted increasing interest in recent years along with technological advances in related biomedical, electrical engineering and computer science fields. While existing systems have investigated the efficacy of BCG setups in bed, backrest, seat or scale positions, we propose to study BCG in headrest position that will allow new practical and portable applications. To this end, we designed and implemented a multi-modality sensing system including a high-sensitivity microbend fiber optic BCG sensor. In this preliminary study, we have collected multi-modality physiological data on 3 human subjects. We ran extensive analysis on BCG in correlation with ECG, and identified special characteristics of the signal in the new BCG setup. The result suggests that new appropriate computing techniques are necessary for accurately recovering the heart beat signal. Therefore, we developed a novel algorithm for heart beat detection. We evaluate the algorithm with the data and demonstrate that it can accurately compute heart rate intervals in the headrest BCG despite significant signal distortion.

Sleeping patterns observation for bedsores and bed-side falls prevention.

Disabled or cognition impaired elderly may lie in the bed most of their time. It is important to monitor their health conditions and look out for life threatening events in and around the bed continuously. Abrupt unassisted movements may lead to falls whereas the lack of desirable movements may cause bedsores. In order to alleviate these problems, we propose automated means of continuous and unobtrusive sleeping pattern observation through pressure sensing bed. By understanding of subjects' states from observed pressure evidences, timely intervention and nursing care can be provided to subjects immediately. This enables provision of high quality care to frail and dependent elderly, and also enhances their quality of life in a cost-effective and resource-efficient manner.

Smart wireless continence management system for persons with dementia.

Incontinence is highly prevalent in the elderly population, especially in nursing home residents with dementia. It is a distressing and costly health problem that affects not only the patients but also the caregivers. Effective continence management is required to provide quality care, and to eliminate high labor costs and annoyances to the caregivers resulting from episodes of incontinence. This paper presents the design, development, and preliminary deployment of a smart wireless continence management system for dementia-impaired elderly or patients in institutional care settings such as nursing homes and hospitals. Specifically, the mote wireless platform was used to support the deployment of potentially large quantities of wetness sensors with wider coverage and with dramatically less complexity and cost. It consists of an intelligent signal relay mechanism so that the residents are free to move about in the nursing home or hospital and allows personalized continence management service. Preliminary results from a trial in a local nursing home are promising and can significantly improve the quality of care for patients.