College - Author 1

College of Engineering

Department - Author 1

Biomedical Engineering Department

Degree Name - Author 1

BS in Biomedical Engineering

College - Author 2

College of Engineering

Department - Author 2

Biomedical Engineering Department

Degree - Author 2

BS in Biomedical Engineering

College - Author 3

College of Engineering

Department - Author 3

Biomedical Engineering Department

Degree - Author 3

BS in Biomedical Engineering

Date

6-2024

Primary Advisor

Britta Berg-Johansen, College of Engineering, Biomedical Engineering Department

Abstract/Summary

Our task at hand is to develop a consumer-focused solution for improving elder care to provide additional peace of mind for seniors and caregivers using technology to extend independent living. We intend to create a device that will improve the quality of life of elderly individuals living alone by encouraging periodical movement throughout the day, along with monitoring pressure distribution and alerting when pressure concentration is potentially harmful. It will also alert users to the presence of moisture which can arise from spills or incontinence. The key stakeholders of this project include elderly adults over the age of 65 who live alone, along with their loved ones, supporters, and Apple Health Technologies, the sponsor of this project.

This report will provide information pertaining to pressure ulcer formation and the effects of sedentary lifestyles in elderly, current research, patents, and on-market devices that aim to alleviate these conditions, and requirements set by Apple. It will then detail other objectives, including indications for use, customer requirements, engineering specifications and measurement methods, including high-risk details, and a discussion of our house of quality. Next, it will cover the project timeline, key deliverables, prototyping plans, the project’s critical path, morphology, the concept evaluation process, conceptual modeling, and the failure modes and effects analysis process. After that, it will address the detailed design process and prototype manufacturing plans. Then, it will cover detailed test plans for each engineering specification, including a summary table, detailed testing protocol, personnel, and expected outcomes. Finally, it will outline the results of each test, discuss the project as a whole, and address goals moving forward and conclusions.

The device’s main functionalities are demonstrated in testing outcomes. The pressure localization test showed high accuracy in pressure recording among pixels with row and column standard deviations of 0.2 and 0.29 V respectively. It also showed short access times for data, with every row and column coming in under the 30-second threshold. The humidity test demonstrated the capability to sense moisture at multiple locations within the device, with each sensor registering an increase of at least 40% when exposed. The stationary time test showed the ability to detect high pressures, triggering every time the voltage went above the threshold value. It also showed the ability to detect extended periods of sitting, triggering within the time threshold two out of three times. The alert test demonstrated the ability to warn users with different sensory issues, with every alert scenario being recognized by the test subject.

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