Unintrusive Pediatric Logging Orthotic Adherence Device: UPLOAD

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PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT The application’s broad objective is to create a product that is able to improve remote compliance monitoring in pediatric orthotics applications by creating a device that combines all of the ideal compliance monitoring features into a single device called the Unintrusive Pediatric Logging Orthosis Analytic Device (UPLOAD). Our initial focus is on pediatric orthotic populations due to the short treatment window and demonstrated clinical efficacy in these populations. Longer term, we can leverage the technical backbone and data ecosystem being advanced with this project for other monitoring needs (e.g., falls in both prosthetics and orthotics, more advanced AFO or prosthesis compliance requiring more than two years of battery life, cranial remolding orthosis pressure monitoring, etc.). The key focus of the proposed project is to determine the feasibility of creating a commercially available device that has all of the following features: unintrusive size, battery life that lasts at least as long as the time between brace replacements, low cost, and most importantly real time remote access to the sensor data in a way that does not require any additional hardware or effort from the parent/patient after initial setup. The specific aims of the project are to develop specifications, perform technical development of the UPLOAD system, and then perform benchtop verification testing to confirm the feasibility of the meeting the identified specifications. The research design and methods for achieving the stated objectives include requirements gathering (including conducting an expert panel) and specification document development, prototype design (including component identification, prototype hardware development, power budgeting and component selection, and alternative energy harvesting), technical development (including custom hardware design, firmware development, mobile application development with cloud infrastructure, and clinician dashboard and report generation), sensor integration method development, verification testing (including functional testing, battery life characterization and performance testing), design refinement, and management and reporting. This project is relevant to the mission of the National Institutes of Health because it applies knowledge to enhance health and reduce disabilities of patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and deformational head shapes.