Wireless Low-Cost Bioimpedance Measurement Device for Lung Capacity Screening.

This paper presents the development and implementation at a prototype level of a wireless, low-cost system for the measurement of the electrical bio-impedance of the chest with two channels using the AD5933 in a bipolar electrode configuration to measure lung volume variation. 15 volunteers were measured with the prototype, and the acquired signal presents the phases of the respiratory cycle, useful for the breathing rate calculation and for possible screening applications.

Noninvasive health condition monitoring device for workers at high altitudes conditions.

This work presents the design and implementation of a continuous monitoring device to control the health state of workers, for instance miners, at high altitudes. The extreme ambient conditions are harmful for peoples' health; therefore a continuous control of the workers' vital signs is necessary. The developed system includes physiological variables: electrocardiogram (ECG), respiratory activity and body temperature (BT), and ambient variables: ambient temperature (AT) and relative humidity (RH). The noninvasive sensors are incorporated in a t-shirt to deliver a functional device, and maximum comfort to the users. The device is able to continuously calculate heart rate (HR) and respiration rate (RR), and establish a wireless data transmission to a central monitoring station.

Eye-tracking capabilities of low-cost EOG system.

This paper presents the design and implementation of a low-cost eye tracking system that allows measuring the rotational angle of the eye and gaze direction in healthy individuals. The system consists of an EOG circuit with simple components that acquire both horizontal and vertical eye movement through regular all-purpose contact electrodes. Then the data are analyzed and translated into corresponding angle values representing the eye rotation angle in both orientations. Results show that horizontal angle measurements are much more accurate than vertical measurements. A discussion regarding the performance and possible improvements is presented.

Intensive care unit availability indexed to patient complexity.

In this paper, a procedure to estimate a Clinical Unit availability is presented. Service availability depends on multiple resources, some of them redundant, to function properly. However, resource consumption varies according to patient's medical condition. The availability of an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) depends both on basic components (electricity, water) and on requirements set by patient complexity and quantity. We propose using Diagnosis Related Groups (DRG) as an estimator of patient complexity. Accumulated DRG (DRG(a)) represents the quantity/complexity combination that the ICU has to care for at any given moment. Our analysis allowed us to find the theoretical combination of patients that would collapse a clinical unit. This limit was deemed reasonable to expert advisors based on their experience at the ICU. The study was conducted for the adult ICU at the 'Clínica Universitaria de Concepción', a teaching hospital in Concepción, Chile. Data was collected during 4 months and analyzed using reliability theory. Overall reliability and availability results are consistent with incident reports at the Clinic. The procedure and recommendations for unit design and management are applicable to Clinical Units both at early planning stages or for currently working units.