Researchers at Northwestern University and the Shirley Tian Ability Lab Research Hospital in Chicago have created a new wearable device that identifies early signs of coronavirus through a set of data algorithms, according to research published in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering.
The device is similar to the seal or nicotine patch and is made of a soft silicone material that is attached to the base of the throat, thus breathing, coughing, heart rate and body temperature can be monitored, then total data is collected and sent to servers that in turn analyze the information to look for the first symptoms of the SK virus.
The device then sends graphical summaries of all registered symptoms to a doctor who uses a digital screen for the device, to view the changes and make a decision to intervene in cases where symptoms appear.
At the end of each day, the user simply removes the small patch and puts it on a wireless charger, and since the small device does not contain wires, charging ports, electrodes or removable batteries it can be worn during shower and sterilized easily.
The device itself was developed at Northwestern University, while the unique algorithms that function are developed by scientists at Shirley Ryan Ability Lab, a Chicago-based research hospital.
Sensors on the board detect the exact vibrations caused by chest wall movements. This means that they can clearly monitor vital signs without being affected by background noise, which is a problem with acoustic recording techniques.
John A. "Our device is ideally positioned on the body to measure respiratory rate, sounds and activity, because this is where airflow occurs near the surface of the skin," Rogers of Northwestern said.
The adhesive sensor patch as of the time of this report is being tested by approximately 25 Corona patients, including Kelly McKenzie, a physiotherapist at Shirley Tian Ability Lab, who has decided to join the pilot study as soon as a disturbing cough appears.
"When you wear it for the first time, you can feel it because it is new and different ... but after you wear it for a while, you don't notice it," she said.
Members of the research team behind the sensor will use experiment data to improve their algorithms, and plan to add new measurements to the device such as measuring oxygen levels in the blood.