Co-design and evaluation of sensor-instrumented ‘smart socks’ (MPATIX) to improve management of distress and agitation for people with dementia

共同设计和评估传感器仪表“智能袜子”(MPATIX)，以改善痴呆症患者的痛苦和躁动管理

• 批准号: 10055596
• 金额: $ 47.66万
• 依托单位: MILBOTIX LTD
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Collaborative R&D
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2023 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=10055596
• 关键词: Co; design; evaluation; sensor; instrumented

More than 70% of the 430,000 care home residents in the UK have dementia or similar memory problems (Alzheimer's Society/ONS). By 2035 the UK dementia population will double to 1.6m.Dementia care is challenging and expensive, costing £35b in the UK. As communication becomes more difficult, people can struggle to request help when they are in distress. This leads to challenging behavioural symptoms (aggression, anxiety) often reflecting resolvable care issues such as discomfort/lack of pain management. Currently, around half of people with dementia experience behavioural symptoms linked to unmanaged distress.Critically, carers face challenges successfully meeting the needs of people with dementia who cannot identify or communicate why/that they are in distress. There is an unmet need for technological solutions which support carers to promptly respond to individuals' unique needs and situational triggers.Milbotix have developed MPATIX Smart Socks, which incorporate sensors that track pulse, sweat, temperature and motion to give accurate insights on the wearer's wellbeing. Utilising our novel machine learning algorithm and mobile application, we can provide unique anxiety/distress information, without disruption for people with dementia or their carers. Looking and feeling like normal socks, the MPATIX socks are machine washable and don't require charging. MPATIX integrates with care home data systems allowing the system to augment existing workflows for easier adoption.Funded by Alzheimer's Society, the UK's leading dementia charity, Milbotix has developed a validated TRL 6 prototype, which has demonstrated reliability at detecting anxiety (74%-98% accurate). This project will develop a trial-ready version, enabling the necessary large-scale RCT which fully quantifies and demonstrates the care provider and individual benefits of deployment.With MPATIX, we are ideally positioned to address a rapidly growing market opportunity and emerging social challenge in an ageing population.

英国 430,000 名疗养院居民中，超过 70% 患有痴呆症或类似的记忆问题（阿尔茨海默病协会/ONS）。到 2035 年，英国痴呆症人口将翻一番，达到 160 万。痴呆症护理具有挑战性且昂贵，在英国花费 350 亿英镑。随着沟通变得更加困难，人们在遇到困难时可能很难请求帮助。这会导致具有挑战性的行为症状（攻击性、焦虑），通常反映出可解决的护理问题，例如不适/缺乏疼痛管理。目前，大约一半的痴呆症患者会出现与无法控制的痛苦相关的行为症状。至关重要的是，护理人员面临着成功满足痴呆症患者需求的挑战，因为他们无法识别或传达他们陷入困境的原因。对于支持护理人员迅速响应个人独特需求和情境触发因素的技术解决方案的需求尚未得到满足。Milbotix 开发了 MPATIX 智能袜子，其中包含跟踪脉搏、汗水、温度和运动的传感器，以准确了解穿着者的健康状况。利用我们新颖的机器学习算法和移动应用程序，我们可以提供独特的焦虑/痛苦信息，而不会干扰痴呆症患者或其护理人员。 MPATIX 袜子的外观和感觉与普通袜子相似，可机洗且无需充电。 MPATIX 与疗养院数据系统集成，使系统能够增强现有工作流程，以便于采用。在英国领先的痴呆症慈善机构阿尔茨海默氏症协会的资助下，Milbotix 开发了经过验证的 TRL 6 原型，该原型在检测焦虑方面表现出可靠性（准确度为 74%-98%）。该项目将开发一个可供试用的版本，从而实现必要的大规模随机对照试验，充分量化并展示部署的护理提供者和个人的好处。通过 MPATIX，我们处于理想的位置，可以应对人口老龄化中快速增长的市场机会和新出现的社会挑战。