StandOff Non-Contact Vital Signs Monitoring System for the NICU

Project Summary Abstract Medical adhesives are ubiquitous through healthcare in the Neonatal Intensive Care UnitNICUand in the majority of all other inpatient and outpatient settingscomprising various medical productssuch as tapesdressingselectrodes and ostomy suppliesPreterm and full term infants in a typical NICU setting require constant monitoring and have these adhesives applied and removed from their fragile skin many times a dayMedical adhesive related skin injuryMARSIincludes mechanical problems such as skin strippingskin tearsand tension blistersdermatitis reactions such as irritant contact dermatitis and allergic dermatitisand other complications such as skin maceration and folliculitisThe most common seen in neonatal patients is epidermal or skin strippingand is a known problem among caregiver staff in the NICUIn aevidence based study performed in overUS nurseries and involvingpreterm and term neonatesadhesives were shown to be the primary cause of observed skin breakdownPreventing MARSI is criticalyetsecure fixation of medical life support equipment is imperativeThe StandOff vital signs monitor is a solution that allows continuousnon contact monitoring of vital signs of neonatal intensive care unitNICUpatientsBecause there are no adhesives or any other contacting parts involvedthere is no potential stripping of skin due to the monitornor any added risk of infection to the babyThe monitor uses ultra wide bandUWBmicro Doppler radar technology to assess patients from a distanceThe StandOff system can provide real time monitoring of crucial physiological parametersincluding heart raterespiratory ratetemperatureand movementThese parameters are essential to ensure the safety of the baby until he or she has grown and matured to a state stable and healthy enough to be discharged to go homeIf successfulthe paradigm will be expanded to other applications such as the intensive care unitICUpostoperative monitoringand emergency and disaster patient triage management Project Narrative The StandOff vital signs monitor is a solution that allows continuousnon contact monitoring of vital signs of neonatal intensive care unitNICUpatientsThis monitor has been designed to eliminate risk of infection to the baby due to tearing of the baby s already delicate skin when standard vital signs monitor adhesives are used