Project description
Monitoring the vital sounds of the elderly
The burden of chronic disease in Europe is on the rise and is mainly associated with the population ageing. Chronic diseases impose a huge financial burden on healthcare systems. The effective monitoring of the vital signs of the elderly is crucial. With this in mind, researchers are developing innovative and minimally invasive devices that can monitor elderly vital signs in care facilities. The EU-funded RayVS1 project will develop a single radar sensor that can detect the position, movement (fall detection), heart and respiration rate of persons in care facilities without any physical interaction with the user. The sensor provides real-time and customised alerts to caregivers and medical professionals while protecting users’ personal data.
Objective
Currently, Europe has the greatest percentage of population aged 65 or over (20%). As life expectancy is increasing there is
an increasing prevalence of chronic diseases which represents a major challenge for health systems. In fact, total ageing
costs in the EU are projected to reach 28.3% of GDP in 2060. Therefore, there is a huge need of developing innovative and
minimally invasive devices for monitoring elderly vital signs parameters and movements in care homes. The golden standard
methods are represented by smart sensors and camera systems. However, they lack in real-time alerting services, they
need constant physical interaction and have limited measurements capabilities. Raytelligence introduces the RayVS1, a
single radar sensor that can detect position, movement (fall detection), heart and respiration rate of persons in care homes
without the need of physically interact with the user. The sensor provides real-time and customized alerts to caregivers,
medical professionals and family members whenever the signals overcome predefined thresholds, through a dedicated
cloud application. This will ensure wide coverage (multiple people monitored with one sensor) and injury prevention thus
saving related healthcare costs. Moreover, it guarantees privacy to the users since personal data are securely stored into the
cloud and it ensures high precision and accurate motion measurements (20μm). RayVS1 has already obtained the CE mark
for in-home use. During the feasibility assessment, a go-to-market strategy and a supply chain will be established, as well as
further development plan will be drafted. During the second phase of innovation project, Raytelligence will optimize the
signal processing activity to monitor multiple individuals with one RayVS1 and extract another vital parameter, such as the
sleep quality. The production capacity will be increase up to 15k pieces per year. Validation trials will then be initiated for obtaining CE mark as a medical device.
Fields of science
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesinternetinternet of things
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensorsoptical sensors
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsignal processing
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensorssmart sensors
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringinformation engineeringtelecommunicationsradio technologyradar
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1Coordinator
302 42 HALMSTAD
Sweden
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.