SBIR Phase I: Advanced Tracking Device for Patients with Cognitive Impairments

This Small Business Innovative Research Phase I research develops technologies to address the increased demands on both families of and institutions serving patients with cognitive and physical impairments to monitor and track patients. Wandering is a common problem in people with dementia. This research expands exisiting system technology to provide monitoring and tracking that covers an area over 0.5 square miles. This will be done by integrating pseudo-Doppler antenna array and direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) technologies to greatly enhance the range and accuracy of the present Directional Antenna /Digital Compass based technology. The broader impacts of this research will be to provide technologies that replace human supervision of caregivers of patients with dementia or cognitive impairment, thereby reducing the burden on health care providers and family and improving the quality of life of the patient.