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），可以监测使用的肌肉组织在一个连续的和无障碍的方式，而受试者在家里进行正常的日常活动。这种创新将为护理人员提供描述其患者在家中的身体和功能表现的特定信息，而不依赖于自我报告或使患者离开家庭环境。PSM将由三个组件组成：1）用于检测肌电（BMG）信号的无线传感器，2）小型身体佩戴式收发器，以及3）处理信号以进行特征提取并传输给护理人员的基站。拟议的第一阶段计划将集中在方法的开发，以识别特定的功能任务，仅基于表面肌电信号。我们建议开发和评估模式识别算法，使用神经网络处理从健康受试者获得的EMG信号，在执行特定的功能任务，从功能独立性测量（Functional Independence Measure）。通过证明即使存在无关的运动活动，也可以使用不超过4个EMG传感器准确区分这些任务，从而实现概念验证。在第二阶段，将继续进行家庭PSM的商业开发：1）设计和构建硬件，2）开发应用软件，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：成功完成拟议项目将导致开发一种新的方法来监测家庭功能活动。这项创新将依赖于涉及无线传感器和远程医疗的技术成果，以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、非特异性体力活动监测器和频繁的家庭护理或诊所访问的依赖，以建立患者在家中的体力活动记录。该系统将具有商业吸引力的许多康复专科工作与老年人，神经功能受损的一般骨科，心脏，运动医学和工伤人口。

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.