Self-Collection Homebased Biosensor for Monitoring and Tracking Suspected COVID-19 Patients
We propose a wearable and wireless integrative health monitoring device which consists of three main parts, including 1) a biosensor module to measure multiple vital signs, 2) a GPS module to track/trace the location of a patient, and 3) a Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/cellular module to upload measured parameters to a central repository for review by healthcare staff. The biosensor module will feature a novel integration of LED-based diffused-photon optical sensors with piezoelectric force/pressure sensors to measure tissue oxygenation, tissue perfusion index, arterial oxygen saturation, blood cytochrome c oxidase, blood pressure, respiratory rate, breathing depth, heart rate, and heart rate variability. This device can monitor body tissue at selected locations either under static conditions or under dynamic interrogation of blood flows by the patient. All parameters are automatically monitored and uploaded enabling efficient and responsive action by healthcare staff. Limited measurements will be displayed on the device screen enabling patient awareness and appropriate self-care. For example, the multiple vital signs obtained by the biosensor module will be combined to derive a respiratory-oxygenation index (ROI), which is useful as a patient warning or recommendation to, for example, seek professional medical care before the health condition becomes severe.
A summer project will focus on developing and testing a functioning prototype with an integrated FPGA for signal processing, a Wi-Fi/Bluetooth link to transmit data to a computer, and a display for user interaction.
The BESIP student working on this project should have an interest in learning about signal processing applications and working with prototype bioinstrumentation. Working closely with the interdisciplinary team, the intern will gain valuable hands-on experience with multiple procedures and technologies including optical properties of materials, optical sensors, FPGA development, data acquisition, circuit design, and software development.
Gandjbakhche lab: Ongoing projects in the laboratory are dedicated to devising quantitative methodologies and associated instrumentations to study biological phenomena at different length scales, from nanoscopy to microscopy and diffuse biophotonics. Expertise includes light/matter interactions as sources of optical contrast (e.g., polarization, fluorescent labels, absorption and/or scattering).
Pohida lab: Provides electrical, electronic, electro-optical, mechanical, computer, and software engineering expertise to NIH projects that require in-house technology development. Collaborations involve advanced signal transduction and data acquisition; real-time signal and image processing; control and monitoring systems (e.g., robotics and process automation); and rapid prototype development. Collaborations result in the design of first-of-a-kind biomedical/ clinical research systems, instrumentation, and methodologies.