Informatics Publishing Limited

P. Nandhini ¹, J. Bethanney Janney ¹, Sindu Divakaran ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Biomedical Engineering, Sathyabama University, Chennai - 600119, Tamil Nadu, IN

Abstract

Objective: This paper aims at providing comfort to the neonates that suffer from pain due to medical interventions in the NICU, through the mediation of maternal temperature and heartbeat vibrations. Methods/Analysis: Here, a non-invasive solution, providing comfort through the mediation of a parent’s physiological features to the distressed neonate is adopted. This is done with the help of an intelligent pillow system embedded with wireless sensing and actuating functions. The neonates will show signs of comfortness when the maternal temperature and heartbeat vibrations are transferred via the pillow. Here, maternal temperature is added in addition to the existing heartbeat vibrations. Findings: Neonates in NICU undergo numerous interventions ranging from a simple diaper change to a major surgery. These neonates are subjected to pain and discomfort, especially during their initial weeks of lives. Pharmacological pain relief treatments are available, but it cannot be always preferred. Hence, a non-pharmacological technique is adopted using maternal temperature and heartbeat vibrations. This work was tested with a prototype of the recording and pillow unit, which produced the expected results of recording the mother’s temperature and heartbeat and transferring them as warmness and as vibrations respectively to the pillow. Application/Improvements: This work can be improved by developing the prototype as a market product and also adding other maternal physiological features like voice, body odour, etc.

Keywords

Intelligent Cushion, Maternal Temperature, Maternal Heartbeat Sound, Neonates and Discomfort

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Sindu Divakaran ¹, J. Bethanney Janney ¹, G. Umashankar ¹, V. Leena Nangai ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Bio and Chemical Engineering, Sathyabama University, Chennai, IN

Abstract

More than 10% of deaths worldwide have occurred due to stroke. In India the incidence of the disease is to be around 130 per 100,000 populations. The concept of assistive movement stroke therapy is new but widely known. The goal is to develop an assistive device for the individual movement of fingers of stroke patient. The device consists of a strain gauge sensor that will sense the amount of input/effort from the user. The sensed analog signals are converted to digital and then send it to a micro controller that determines the output of stepper motor. The stepper motor moves the individual fingers of the stroke patient.

Keywords

Stroke, Assistive Therapy, Fingers, Sensor, Motors.

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