20-07-2013, 02:01 PM
Network Approach for Physiological Parameters Measurement
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Abstract
A portable parameter monitoring and analysis system
for physiological studies and for assisting patient-centric health
care management is developed. The system uses the network ap-
proach to acquire the data from sensors and transmit them to a
server through wireless propagation means. The system automates
the acquisition and monitoring of physiological parameters by con-
tinuous display on the monitor screen. Programming is done using
industry strength software to display data and trends in real time
on a standard PC. The measured data is accurate and lives up to
the standards of the industry.
INTRODUCTION
HERE IS an ever increasing demand for automated mon-
itoring of physiological parameters. The demand is set to
increase manifolds in the not-so-distant future in the realm of
home care for the aged and patients in hospitals. It will also
be needed to monitor the performance level of athletes, ser-
vice personnel, and others involved in various physical activi-
ties. Real-time, continuous monitoring is required in such cases,
as it allows for emergency detection of an abrupt change of a
person’s health condition. It also monitors and detects changes
that take place over long intervals of time, as in the case of
athletes. In particular, an ambulatory system that would allow
long-term monitoring of mobile subjects is highly in demand.
Numerous physiological, biomechanical, and peripheral param-
eters have been data logged [1] successfully using ambulatory
monitoring [2], including electrocardiograph (ECG) [3], elec-
troencephalography (EEG) [4], oesophageal mobility and pH
profile [5], planter pressures [6], perspiration measurement [7],
blood pressure [8], and bladder pressures [9], among others.
INTRODUCTION
HERE IS an ever increasing demand for automated mon-
itoring of physiological parameters. The demand is set to
increase manifolds in the not-so-distant future in the realm of
home care for the aged and patients in hospitals. It will also
be needed to monitor the performance level of athletes, ser-
vice personnel, and others involved in various physical activi-
ties. Real-time, continuous monitoring is required in such cases,
as it allows for emergency detection of an abrupt change of a
person’s health condition. It also monitors and detects changes
that take place over long intervals of time, as in the case of
athletes. In particular, an ambulatory system that would allow
long-term monitoring of mobile subjects is highly in demand.
Numerous physiological, biomechanical, and peripheral param-
eters have been data logged [1] successfully using ambulatory
monitoring [2], including electrocardiograph (ECG) [3], elec-
troencephalography (EEG) [4], oesophageal mobility and pH
profile [5], planter pressures [6], perspiration measurement [7],
blood pressure [8], and bladder pressures [9], among others.
Proximity Detector
The ultrasound transducer detects the height of the human
while standing on the weighing platform. The transducer is
mounted on a 2.5-m-long stand pointing toward the weighing
scale placed on the floor. It transmits a burst of sound pulses
which has a frequency outside the range of human hearing.
The pulse travels at the speed of sound (roughly 0.9 ft/s) away
from the transducer in a cone shape and the sound reflects
back to the detector from any object in the path of this sonic
wave. The detector pauses for a brief interval after the sound
burst is transmitted and then awaits the reflected sound in the
form of an echo. The controller driving the detector initiates a
measurement; the detector creates the sound pulse and waits
for the return echo. If received, the detector reports this echo to
the controller and the controller then computes the distance to
the object based on the elapsed time.
Future Development
A telemetric sensor unit and a base unit for receiving data from
the sensor unit for continuous monitoring are being developed in
the lab. The sensor unit, capable of supporting multiple sensors,
will be attached to a subject for monitoring physiological param-
eters, and the data from the sensor unit is sent to the base unit
(receiver) through a (RF/GSM) transmitter. Three major design
issues are addressed for the sensor unit. One is to develop a non-
invasive, light weight, small size wireless sensor unit which can
be strapped on to the body easily, the second is to minimize mo-
tion artefact, and the third is to minimize the consumption of bat-
tery power in the sensor unit. The base unit will be a stand-alone
unit which will be able to receive the data from a single or mul-
tiple sensor units, store it, and also transfer it to a server unit.
CONCLUSION
A novel portable physiological system for patient health
monitoring and management with a wireless LAN has been
developed. The system is suitable for good and urgent care of
emergency victims, patients in hospitals or at home, and also
to monitor the performance level of athletes, service personnel,
and others involved in various physical activities. It is a network
approach for assisting patient-centric health care management.