FECAL-INCONTINENCE MONITOR

该项目的目标是为大便失禁患者开发一种传感器系统，以提醒个人或向其卫生保健服务人员发送排便和需要注意的信号。我们的目标是最终生产一个小型便携式电池供电的光学传感系统，可以穿的失禁患者。该系统将采用一次性光纤传感器放置在个人的内衣，这将像一个“嗅探器”，并响应与排便有关的气体。为了确认可行性，该项目的第一阶段将涉及使用基于光纤的传感器技术分析康复中心患者的新鲜粪便样本。将进行研究，以确定指示气体种类的释放量和释放速率的变化特征。还将研究改进传感器系统的方法，特别是针对该特定应用的检测器仪器的设计。第一阶段的工作将提供有关参数的关键信息，这些参数对患者应用监测系统的设计和实施至关重要。这将使原型系统能够在第III阶段开发。目的是在II期试验中使用患者佩戴的传感器系统。拟议的商业应用：该监测系统将由大便失禁患者和有需要辅助护理的失禁患者的卫生保健机构使用。它将改善对失禁者的护理和管理，并降低医疗保健提供成本。这种气体传感技术在其他生物医学应用和一般工业中还有其他应用。

The goal of this project is to develop a sensor system for fecal- incontinent patients to alert the individual, or send a signal to their health-care attendants, of a bowel movement and that attention is required. The objective is to ultimately produce a small portable battery- operated optical sensing system that can be worn by the incontinent patient. The system will employ a disposable fiber optic sensor placed in an individual's undergarment, which will act like a "sniffer" and respond to gas associated with defecation. To confirm feasibility, Phase I of this project will involve analyses of fresh fecal samples from convalescent center patients using the fiber- based sensor technique. Studies will be conducted to characterize the variation in the amount and rate of liberation of the indicator gas specie. Means of improving the sensor system will also be researched, especially the design of the detector instrument, for this specific application. The Phase I work will provide key information regarding parameters critical to the design and implementation of the monitoring system for patient application. This will enable prototype systems to be developed in Phase IiI. The objective is to conduct trials in Phase II with sensor systems worn by patients. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS: This monitoring system will be used by fecal incontinent patients, and by health-care facilities having incontinent patients requiring assisted care. It will allow improved care and management of those incontinent and reduce health-care delivery costs. There are additional applications for this gas sensing technique in other biomedical applications and in general industry.