A PERSONAL STATUS MONITOR FOR THE HOME

我们建议开发和评估一种无线个人状态监测器（PSM），当受试者在家中进行正常和平常的日常活动时，它可以以连续和无阻碍的方式监测肌肉组织的使用。这项创新将为护理人员提供具体的信息，描述患者在家中的身体和功能表现，而不依赖于自我报告或让患者离开家庭环境。PSM将由三个部分组成：1)用于检测肌电图（BMG）信号的无线传感器，2)一个小型穿戴式收发器，3)一个处理信号以提取特征并传输给护理人员的基站。拟议的第一阶段计划将专注于开发仅基于表面肌电信号识别特定功能任务的方法。我们建议开发和评估使用神经网络的模式识别算法，用于处理从功能独立性测量（FIM）中选择的特定功能任务中获得的健康受试者的肌电图信号。通过证明使用不超过4个肌电图传感器可以准确区分这些任务，即使存在外部运动活动，也可以实现概念验证。家用PSM的商业开发将在第二阶段继续进行：1)设计和构建硬件，2)开发应用软件，以及3)将智能算法的开发扩展到其他功能活动。拟议的商业应用：拟议项目的成功完成将导致一种监测家庭功能活动的新方法的发展。这项创新将依靠无线传感器和远程医疗等技术成果，超越目前测量家庭功能活动的方法。它将取代或增强目前对自我报告问卷、非特异性身体活动监测以及频繁的家庭护理或诊所访问的依赖，以建立患者在家中的身体活动记录。该系统将对许多与老年人、神经系统受损的普通骨科、心脏病、运动医学和工伤人群一起工作的康复专业具有商业吸引力。

We propose to develop and evaluate a wireless Personal Status Monitor (PSM) that can monitor the use of musculature in a continuous and unobstructive fashion while a subject performs normal and usual daily activities in the home. This innovation will provide the caregiver specific information describing their patient's physical and functional performance in the home, without relying on self-reports or having the patient leave the home environment. The PSM will consist of three components: I) wireless sensors to detect the electromyographic (BMG) signal, 2) a small body-worn transceiver, and 3) a base station, which processes the signals for feature extraction and transmission to the caregiver. The proposed Phase l program will focus on the development of methods to recognize specific functional tasks based solely on surface EMG signals. We propose to develop and evaluate pattern recognition algorithms using neural networks for processing EMG signals obtained from healthy subjects during the performance of specific functional tasks selected from the Functional Independence Measure (FIM). Proof of concept will be achieved by demonstrating that it is possible to accurately distinguish between these tasks using no more than 4 EMG sensors, even when extraneous motor activity is present. The commercial development of a PSM for the home will be continued during Phase II by: 1) designing and building the hardware, 2) developing the application software, and 3) expanding the development of intelligent algorithms to additional functional activities. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS: Successful completion of the proposed project will lead to the development of a new method for monitoring functional activity in the home. The innovation will rely on technological achievements involving wireless sensors and telemedicine to surpass the capability of current methods to measure functional activity in the home. It will replace, or augment, the current reliance on self-report questionnaires, non-specific physical activity monitors, and frequent home care or clinic visits to establish a patient record of physical activity in the home. The system will have commercial appeal to many of the rehabilitation specialties working with the elderly, neurologically impaired general orthopedic, cardiac, sports medicine and work-injured populations.