New sensor applications: lying on the bed can sense heart problems

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data, heart failure is one of the most common causes of hospitalization in patients 65 years of age and older. To help reduce hospital admissions and reduce stress on the healthcare system, researchers at the University of Missouri in the United States have developed a bedside sensor that alerts seniors about impending heart problems.

According to Science Daily, Marjorie Skubic, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Missouri and retired professor of education at Sinclair College of Nursing, Marilyn Rantz, said the technology could help elderly people with heart failure and reduce their chances of hospitalization.

Skubic says the symptoms are manageable, and these bed sensors help detect early signs of disease. This sensor, which continuously monitors heart rate, is more convenient for the elderly because there is no need to wear any additional device.

The bed sensor developed by Skubic uses a flexible water tube to measure blood flow through the body, with the sensor placed under the mattress. Rantz said the sensor can detect small changes to predict health problems.

Researchers previously conducted research on patients with sensors showed that heart failure can be detected 1 to 2 weeks before onset, allowing patients to be treated in advance, avoiding evolving into serious illness and reducing hospitalization chances.

Skubic and Rantz are researchers at the MU Center for Eldercare and Rehabilitation Technology, an interdisciplinary team of faculty, staff and students dedicated to investigating, developing and assessing the needs of the elderly Needed technology.

The research team is currently working on a case study by the National Institutes of Health to design smart sensor systems early in life at disease centers. Also commissioned by the National Library of Medicine to conduct sensor data analysis of geriatric care devices.