Detecting daily activity of solitary living elderly persons.

We report on an activity monitoring system for elderly persons living alone. Caregivers would like to know whether the person is talking during their daily activity. Our monitoring system consists of a recorder and a personal computer.

An ultrasonic stride length measuring system employing two digital compasses.

We have developed an ultrasonic stride length measuring system for analyzing the human gait. All elements of the system are quite small and each fit into an appropriate package. An ultrasonic transmitter, a digital compass, a radio transmitter and a microcontroller are attached to the subject’s heel on the right shoe and in the direction of the left shoe.

An updated and more accurate drip infusion solution monitoring system - biomed 2013.

We have developed a drip infusion solution monitoring system for hospital and care facility use that is much more accurate than our previous reported system. The system consists of two electrodes and an acceleration sensor. The electrodes, which are wrapped around the infusion supply polyvinyl chloride (PVC) tube from the solution bag and the drip chamber, measure the growth and fall of each drop of infusion solution.

An ultra flexible capacitive electrode for an ecg recording system - biomed 2013.

We have developed an ultra-flexible skin electrode to monitor a patient’s electrocardiogram (ECG) during daily activity. This electrode consists of a 1.5 micrometer thick polyester film printed with electro-conductive paint.

An electronic communication system for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients - biomed 2013.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a progressive degeneration of motor neurons. Patients with the disease lose their ability to speak and to use their hands as the disease progresses. We have developed a new electronic communication system that enables communication by blinking of the eyes.

A remote drip infusion monitoring system employing Bluetooth.

We have developed a remote drip infusion monitoring system for use in hospitals. The system consists of several infusion monitoring devices and a central monitor. The infusion monitoring device employing a Bluetooth module can detect the drip infusion rate and an empty infusion solution bag, and then these data are sent to the central monitor placed at the nurses' station via the Bluetooth.

A drip infusion warning system.

We have developed a drip infusion warning system for hospital and care facility use. In general, two kinds of infusion sets are used, which have drop factors of either 20 or 60. (A drop factor is the number of drops to deliver 1 ml of infusion solution.

A new ultrasonic stride length measuring system.

We have developed a new ultrasonic stride length measuring system for analyzing the human gait. An ultrasonic transmitter, a radio transmitter, a pressure sensor and microcontroller are attached to the subject’s heel on the right shoe and in the direction of the left shoe. Two ultrasonic receivers, a radio receiver, a microcontroller and a 1GB SD memory card are installed on the left shoe.

A daily living activity remote monitoring system for solitary elderly people.

A daily living activity remote monitoring system has been developed for supporting solitary elderly people. The monitoring system consists of a tri-axis accelerometer, six low-power active filters, a low-power 8-bit microcontroller (MC), a 1GB SD memory card (SDMC) and a 2.4 GHz low transmitting power mobile phone (PHS).

A sensor for monitoring pulse rate, respiration rhythm, and body movement in bed.

A non-constraint cardiac vibration, respiration, and body movement monitoring system has been developed. The sensor system is designed to be easily installable under an existing bed mattress. The sensor consists of a 40-kHz ultrasound transmitter and receiver pair.

A new safety support system for wandering elderly persons.

We have developed a new mobile phone-based safety support system for transmitting information of a wandering elderly person's location and the environmental sounds around that person. The system consists of a wearable sensor and a conventional desktop PC with Internet access acting as the server computer. The wearable sensor, which is attached behind the neck of the elderly person's shirt, is composed of a low transmitting power mobile phone (W-SIM), a small microphone and a one chip microcontroller.

A mobile phone-based ecg and heart sound monitoring system - biomed 2011.

We have developed a telemedicine system to monitor a patient’s electrocardiogram (ECG) and heart sounds (PCG) during daily activity. The complete system, consisting of an ECG recorder, an accelerometer and a 2.4 GHz low power mobile phone, is mounted on three chest sensing electrodes.

Relationship between frequency and impedance change in an infusion rate measurement system employing a capacitance sensor - biomed 2011.

We have been searching for a suitable frequency range for an electrical impedance measurement infusion solution drip monitoring system, which we have previously reported. This electrical impedance, which is formed between two electrodes wrapped around the infusion supply polyvinyl-chloride tube and around the drip chamber, is changed by the growth and fall of each drop of fluid. Thus, the drip rate can be detected by measuring this impedance.

A new drip infusion solution monitoring system with a free-flow detection function.

A new drip infusion solution monitoring system has been developed for hospital and care facility use. The system detects the fall of each drip chamber drop of fluid and also a free-flow situation. Three non-contacting copper foil electrodes are used.

A system for monitoring cardiac vibration, respiration, and body movement in bed using an infrared.

We have developed a non-invasive system for monitoring cardiac vibrations, respiration and body movement of in-bed hospitalized patients and elderly people who need constant care. These physiological parameters are recorded by an infrared emitting diode and a photo transistor, which are attached between spring coils in bed mattress. The infrared emitting diode diffuses infrared light into the mattress.

A new drip infusion monitoring system - biomed 2010.

A new drip infusion solution monitoring system has been developed for hospital and care facility use. The system detects and counts the fall of each drip chamber drop of fluid. Two non-contacting copper foil electrodes are used; one wrapped around the infusion supply polyvinyl-chloride tube under the solution bag and another around the drip chamber, forming two capacitors.

Physiological and care monitoring of anti-decubitus mattress patients - biomed 2010.

Unlabelled: An ultrasonic physical and care monitoring system has been developed for monitoring the physiological parameters of body movement, heart contraction, and respiration of patients on low-repulsion, anti-decubitus (anti-bedsore) hospital beds. These beds, of several designs, are intended to reduce pressure on the body surface of immobilized patients, in order to prevent decubitus ulcers, which are often fatal. Since low-repulsion mattresses lack conventional springs, padding and air space, this system employs a polyvinyl chloride tube under the mattress, which has a 40 kHz ultrasonic transmitter and receiver at its ends.

Monitoring respiration and body movement in the home bathrooms - biomed 2010.

We have developed a non-intrusive safety monitoring system which can measure respiration and body movements of solitary-living elderly people while they are in their home bathroom. These physiological variables are monitored with a 40 kHz ultrasonic transmitter and four receivers. The ultrasonic transmitter diffuses an ultrasonic wave throughout the room.

A remote monitor of bed patient cardiac vibration, respiration and movement.

We have developed a remote system for monitoring heart rate, respiration rate and movement behavior of at-home elderly people who are living alone. The system consists of a 40 kHz ultrasonic transmitter and receiver, linear integrated circuits, a low-power 8-bit single chip microcomputer and an Internet server computer. The 40 kHz ultrasonic transmitter and receiver are installed into a bed mattress.

A wireless breathing-training support system for kinesitherapy.

We have developed a new wireless breathing-training support system for kinesitherapy. The system consists of an optical sensor, an accelerometer, a microcontroller, a Bluetooth module and a laptop computer. The optical sensor, which is attached to the patient's chest, measures chest circumference.

A new bed-exiting alarm system for welfare facility residents.

A newly developed alarm system detects welfare facility residents leaving their beds, and does not respond to the care staff, who wear shoes or slippers. It employs a stainless steel tape electrode, several linear integrated circuits and a low-power 8-bit single chip microcomputer. The electrode, which is used as a bed-exiting detection sensor, is attached to the floor mat to record changes in the always-present AC (alternating current) voltage induced on the patient's body by electrostatic coupling from the standard 100 volt, 60 Hz AC utility power wiring in the room walls and ceiling.

A remote access ecg monitoring system - biomed 2009.

We have developed a remotely accessible telemedicine system for monitoring a patient's electrocardiogram (ECG). The system consists of an ECG recorder mounted on chest electrodes and a physician's laptop personal computer. This ECG recorder is designed with a variable gain instrumentation amplifier; a low power 8-bit single-chip microcomputer; two 128KB EEPROMs and 2.

A wearable data acquisition system employing one tri-axis accelerometer - biomed 2009.

We have developed a heart rate, respiration rate, posture, behavior and activity data acquisition system for monitoring certain health and activity features during daily life. The recording system consists of one tri-axis accelerometer, six low-power active filters, a low-power 8-bit microcontroller (MC) and a 128MB compact flash memory (CFM). The system is attached to the subject's chest and can simultaneously measure dynamic and static acceleration forces.

A new venous infusion path monitoring system utilizing electrostatic induced potential.

A new venous infusion pathway monitoring system has been developed for hospital and home use. The system consists of linear and digital integrated circuits and a low-power 8-bit single chip microcomputer which constantly monitors the infusion pathway intactness. A 330 kHz AC voltage, which is induced on the patient's body by electrostatic coupling from a 330 kHz pulse oscillator, can be recorded by main and reference electrodes wrapped around the infusion polyvinyl chloride tube.

A safety support system for patient location.

We have developed a new electronic location support system for wandering elderly patients who may be walking, be stationary, or moving at higher speed in vehicles. Our system functions in buildings, and uses a low power mobile phone terminal along with a caregiver's mobile phone. The system is carried by the patient whose location is detected from the location of the system antennae communicating with the person's mobile phone system (PHS).