Myo Naing Nyan

Application of motion analysis system in pre-impact fall detection

The purpose of this study is to investigate unique features of body segments in fall and activities of daily living (ADL) to make automatic detection of fall in its descending phase before the impact. Thus, fall-related injuries can be prevented or reduced by deploying feedback systems before the impact. In this study, the authors propose the following hypothesis: (1) thigh segment normally does not go beyond certain threshold angle to forward and sideways directions in ADL and (2) even if it does, the angular characteristics measured at torso and thigh differ from one another in ADL whereas in the case of fall, they become congruent. These two factors can be used to distinguish fall from ADL in its inception. Vicon 3-D motion analysis system was used in this study. High level of correlation between thigh and torso segments (corr > 0.99) was found for fall activities and low correlation coefficients (mean corr for lateral movements is 0.2338 and for sagittal movements is -0.665) were observed in ADL. By applying the hypothesis, all simulated falls could be detected with no false alarms and around 700ms lead-time before the impact was achieved in pre-impact fall detection. It is the longest lead-time obtained so far in pre-impact fall detection.

MEMSWear-biomonitoring system for remote vital signs monitoring

Abstract This paper proposes a remote vital signs monitoring system, which integrates wireless body area network (WBAN) and personal digital assistant (PDA) phone technology. Four different physiological signs, e.g., ECG, SpO 2 , temperature and blood pressure, can be continuously acquired or derived from two wireless sensor nodes—ECG sensor and integrated SpO 2 /temperature sensor. Once sentinel events happened or the request to real-time display vital signs is confirmed, all physiological signs and critical indices will be immediately transmitted to patients PDA phone through Bluetooth and further relayed to doctors PDA phone through global system for mobile communication (GSM) technology. A prototype of such system has been successfully developed and implemented, which will offer high standard of healthcare with a major reduction in cost for our society.

Garment-based detection of falls and activities of daily living using 3-axis MEMS accelerometer

This paper studied the detection of falls and activities of daily living (ADL) with two objectives: (1) minimum number of sensors for a broad range of activities and (2) maximize the comfort of the wearer for long term use. We used a garment to provide long term comfort for the wearer, with a 3-axis MEMS accelerometer on the shoulder position, as a wearable platform. ADL were detected in time-frequency domain and summation of absolute peak values of 3-D acceleration signals was used as feature in fall detection. 6 male and female subjects performed approximately five-hour long experiment. Sensitivity of 94.98% and specificity of 98.83% for altogether 1495 activities were achieved. Our garment-based detection system fulfilled the objective of providing the comfort of the wearer in long term monitoring of falls and ADL with high sensitivity. In fall detection, our device can summon medical assistances via SMS (Short Message Service). This detection system can raise fall alarm (fall SMS) automatically to individuals to get a shortened interval of the arrival of assistance.

A Long-term Wearable Vital Signs Monitoring System using BSN

Wearable medical devices provide great convenience to the elderly for the monitoring of vital signs at home. This paper describes a novel long-term wearable vital signs monitoring system which can real-time measure physiological signs such as ECG, SpO2 (saturation of arterial oxygen) and systolic blood pressure. The proposed device is easy to wear, convenient to use and has almost no impact on the quality of life. A miniaturized PCB integrated with the ECG analog front-end and SpO2 LED drive circuit is attached onto the BSN node. By simply wearing the chest band embedded with ECG micromachined electrodes and the ear-probe which incorporates LEDs and photodetector, the measured physiological signals can be wirelessly transmitted to a hand-held device, such as PDA phone, where the heart beat rate, SpO2 and systolic blood pressure are calculated and displayed.

Location and sensitivity comparison of MEMS accelerometers in signal identification for ambulatory monitoring

This paper will present the comparison of experimental results for different sensitivity in the usage of MEMS accelerometers based on the eigenvector-based signal identification algorithm for multi-dimensional signal identification related to daily activities. Experimental results from sensors mounted on different locations on the human body will also be presented and discussed.

A wearable BSN-based ECG-recording system using micromachined electrode for continuous arrhythmia monitoring

A wearable BSN-based ECG-recording system is proposed for long-term and continuous arrhythmia monitoring. A novel micromachined Pt electrode is specifically designed, fabricated and integrated into a wearable chest band. A miniaturized PCB for ECG analog front-end is fabricated, and can be plugged on the BSN node to wirelessly transmit the signal to a hand-held device. Wavelet denoising is implemented on the hand-held device to further reduce the noise induced by electrode contact. Once a beat is detected, it is characterized by a number of features such as width, amplitude and rhythm pattern, and different types of arrhythmias can then be real-time classified. Once sentinel events such as arrhythmia is detected, the abnormal ECG signal can be sent wirelessly by hand-held device through GPRS to doctors or caregivers for prompt analysis and further treatment.

A MEMS-based bioelectrode for ECG measurement

This paper proposes a novel micromachined physiological recording electrode with hollow microneedles for Electrocardiography (ECG) measurement. Compared to the standard commercial wet electrode and other proposed dry electrodes, a unique characteristic of this device is that a hollow microneedle array is made of silicon, which can pierce through the outer skin surface, lowering the electrode-skin-electrode impedance (ESEI) thus eliminating the need for skin preparation. Furthermore, instead of the conventional electrolytic gel, NaCl solution is used to fill the hollow microneedles and the reservoir etched in the backside of the silicon die; it is more comfortable, easy to acquire and imposes no side-effects on human. Test results of this electrode agreed well with the signal from commercial wet electrodes. This device provides a great potential for ECG measurement with cost-effective, convenience, and comfortability for health care management of aged population.

An integrated wrist-worn routine monitoring system for the elderly using BSN

Wearable medical devices provide great convenience to the elderly for the monitoring of vital signs at home. This paper describes a novel wrist-worn vital signs routine monitoring system which can measure physiological signs including ECG, SpO2 (Saturation of Arterial Oxygen) and systolic blood pressure in real-time and with almost no impact on quality of life. The proposed device is easy to wear and convenient to use. A miniaturized PCB integrates the ECG analog front-end and SpO2 LED drive circuit and can be attached on a BSN node. By simply press the top ECG electrode on the device using any finger from the other hand, the measured physiological signals will be wirelessly transmitted to a PDA, where the heart beat rate, SpO2 and systolic blood pressure is calculated and displayed on a hand-held device, such as PDA.

Characterization and Fabrication of Novel Micromachined Electrode for BSN-Based Vital Signs Monitoring System

A novel micromachined electrode is designed and fabricated for a BSN-based vital signs monitoring system. Both theoretical calculation and ANSYS simulation show that buckling problem will not occur for the proposed microneedles during insertion process. The BSN-based vital signs routine monitoring system, which comprises of wireless mote, analog amplifier circuit board and SpO2 (Saturation of Arterial Oxygen) probe, is able to measure physiological signs in real time and with minimum disturbance on quality of life. The proposed device is easy to wear and convenient to use. Using a dock with ZigBee adapter, a PDA phone can communicate with the mote and then display the ECG/PPG waveforms as well as the important indices of vital signs, such as heart beat rate, SpO2 value and systolic blood pressure.

MEMSWear - Biomonitoring System in A Body Area Network (BAN)

MEMSWear is an initiative that takes advantage of MEMS technology and applies it in developing a wearable platform for monitoring of vital signs and other important events such as falls in the elderly. BAN facilitated MEMSWear transmits data wirelessly to designated users, such as doctors, caregivers or family members through Bluetooth-enabled PDAs/phones belong to wearers. The system offers high standard of health care at a major reduction in cost that our society needs