| RESEARCH PROJECTS | |
| Title: | Integration of Biophysiological Information with Point-of-Care Decision Support Systems for Safer Patient Care |
| Funding Agency: | NSERC |
| Grant Amount: | $455,000 |
| Term: | 2008-2011 |
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Investigators: |
Diane Doran (PI),
Rafik Goubran, Frank Knoefel, Shawn Doherty and Andrew Dubrowski |
|
Details: |
This study investigates the design
and strategies for a technological system that will give
homecare clinicians innovative scheduling capabilities, allow
them to assess client activity in and out-of-home and provide
timely access to decision support. The study focuses on the
integration of hand-held technologies, such as a cell
phone-based GPS-supported monitoring system integrated with a
Web-based software application for tracking client information.
The system will be implemented in live homecare settings for the
purpose of determining the system's feasibility and safety in
the field. The study findings will provide valuable information
about the effectiveness of integrating bio-physiological
information obtained through non-intrusive monitoring with
decision support technologies to support safer patient practices
for seniors. As part of this study, the TAFETA research team
will focus on the integration of pressure-sensitive mats as well
as data fusion and communication between multiple sensors. |
| Title: | Smart Environments and Communications for the Independent Living of Seniors |
| Funding Agency: | NSERC |
| Amount: | $372,000 |
| Term: | 2007-2010 |
| Investigators: | Rafik Goubran (PI), Frank Knoefel and Heidi Sveistrup |
|
Details: |
This
project aims to monitor the health and well-being of seniors
using integrated smart sensor technologies and communicate this
information to caregivers. Both the pressure-sensitive mat and
e-nose technologies will be further developed as part of this
study. Additionally, the team will look at new methods to
further integrate smart sensor technologies and improve their
communications/storage capabilities. |
| Title: | Identification of Changes in Bed Pressure Patterns in the Pathological and Healthy Aging |
| Funding Agency: | CIHR |
| Grant Amount: | $93,650 |
| Term: | 2008-2009* |
| Investigators: |
Martin Bilodeau
(PI), Heidi Sveistrup, Rafik Goubran, Frank Knoefel and Christine Yang |
|
Details: |
This
pilot study investigates bed transfers using
pressure-sensitive mat technology. In this study, the research
team will assess differences in pressure patterns between four initial groups of
subjects with varying levels of mobility skills: 1) young
adults, 2) community-dwelling older adults, 3) frail older
adults post-hip fracture and 4) adults post-stroke. The team
hypothesizes that the different transfer patterns used by these
four groups will lead to distinct bed pressure patterns measured
using the pressure-sensitive mat technology. *This study will
continue for another year to analyze data captured during the
initial funding period. |
| Title: | Pressure-Sensitive Mat Technology: Studies in Palliative Care at Bruyère Continuing Care |
| Funding Agency: | Kiwanis Medical Foundation |
| Amount: | $25,000 |
| Term: | 2009-2011 |
| Investigators: | Frank Knoefel (PI), Rafik Goubran and José Pereira |
|
Details: |
This study
investigates the viability of
pressure-sensitive mat technology in the palliative care unit at
Elisabeth Bruyère Hospital (Bruyère Continuing Care).
Specifically, this study aims to: (1) determine if the mat
technology can identify end-of-life breathing patterns, (2)
identify any correlations between clinical sleep evaluations to
the data
obtained from the mats, (3) identify any correlations between
clinical delirium evaluations to the data obtained from the mats and
(4) determine if the mats can identify changes in breathing and
movement patterns based on changes in palliative sedation. The
Kiwanis Medical Foundation has generously donated funds to
secure more equipment to advance this study. |
| Title: | Feasibility of Smart Voice Technology to Improve Support in Affordable Seniors' Housing |
| Funding Agency: | Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) |
| Amount: | $20,100 |
| Term: | 2009-2010 |
| Investigators: | Frank Knoefel (PI) and Rafik Goubran |
|
Details:
|
The objective of this study is to install one smart fridge sensor in
each of five units of an
affordable seniors' housing complex in the Ottawa area. The fridge sensors
provide |
| Title: | Can Pressure-Sensitive Mat Technology Identify Older Adults With Hip Fractures? |
| Funding Agency: | Bruyère Academic Medical Organization (BAMO) |
| Amount: | $20,000 |
| Term: | 2009-2010 |
| Investigators: | Frank Knoefel (PI) and Rafik Goubran |
|
Details:
|
This study
uses data captured in a prior study entitled "Identification
of Changes in Bed Pressure Patterns in the Pathological and
Healthy Aging"
to complete analyses aimed at evaluating the
pressure-sensitive mat's ability to identify transfer
patterns amongst older healthy adults and older adults' post-hip fractures. |
| Title: | Can SmartCells® Flooring Reduce Falls Related Injuries? |
| Funding Agency: | Elisabeth Bruyère Research Institute |
| Amount: | $35,000 |
| Term: | 2006-2007 |
| Investigators: | Frank Knoefel (PI), Louise Patrick and Rafik Goubran |
|
Details:
|
This prospective study is being
conducted at the Guest House, a respite care facility in Ottawa
for patients with Alzheimer's disease. The goal of the study is
to verify the utility of the
SmartCells® dual-stiffness flooring
from SATECH Inc. as a potential technology to reduce morbidity
related to falls in older adults.
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| COMPLETED RESEARCH PROJECTS | |
|
Remote Pressure Monitoring Using
Pressure-Sensitive Mats: 2006-2007 Funded By: Ontario Research Network for Electronic Commerce (ORNEC) This study advanced research focused on monitoring older adults remotely using pressure-sensitive mat technology from Tactex Controls Inc. As part of this study, a literature review of the use of pressure-sensitive mats in monitoring bed occupants was completed, and a literature survey of other sensors that may be used in the TAFETA Smart Apartment was finalized. In addition, signal processing tasks dealing with the pressure-sensitive mat were defined. These included: calibration and signal conditioning; signal enhancement; noise cancellation; interference cancellation; signal interpretation; feature extraction; pattern recognition; and classification. As a result of this activity, the team was able to analyze sleeping patterns and extract breathing information. This funding resulted in two publications and the completion of a Master's thesis. |
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SmartCells®
Flooring Pilot Study: 2006 Funded By: Elisabeth Bruyere Research Institute/Bruyere Continuing Care In this study, SmartCells® flooring, developed by SATECH Inc., was integrated into the TAFETA Smart Apartment bathroom and a pilot project was completed to assess the product’s safety in a frail older population. The floor has been shown to reduce morbidity to falls in older adults. |
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Magnetic Fridge Sensor Development: 2004 Funded By: Carleton University A simple magnetic sensor was developed by the Department of Systems and Computer Engineering at Carleton University to provide a verbal message to alert an older adult if the fridge has accidentally been left open. The sensor also alerts a caregiver if the fridge use is abnormal (i.e., has not been opened in several days). The sensor has been integrated into the TAFETA Smart Apartment. |
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Blood Pressure Monitoring Project: 2004 Funded By: Industry Canada (Canarie Inc.) Using a remote blood pressure (BP) monitoring tool from a local high-tech company, a pilot study was completed to asses technology acceptance and the technology's impact on blood pressure control. Seven nuns, aged 83-94, participated in the study. The results demonstrated that technology was not a barrier for a non-technologically savvy group. |
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