Phase IIB: Portable Device for Telecare Monitoring of Elderly People

DESCRIPTION provided by applicant We propose to further develop field test and commercialize a reliable and robust sensor technology that allows the objective assessment of daily physical activity risk of falling frailty and activity organization among older adults in he home and community This is a Phase IIB STTR application During Phases Iandamp II BioSensics LLC in collaboration with the Interdisciplinary Consortium on Advanced Motion Performance and the Arizona Center on Aging at the University of Arizona developed and clinically validated sophisticated signal processing algorithms and associated sensor hardware to monitor physical activity and falls in older adults using a single motion sensor tri axial accelerometer worn on the torso or as a pendant Our Phase I II work resulted in two commercially available products PAMSys tm is a wearable sensor platform for long term monitoring of activity related parameters that are of significant importance for objective assessment of physical activity functioning frailty and fall risk of older adults PAMSys tm is primarily a research tool with broad applicatons in pharmaceutical clinical trials and other comparative outcomes clinical research ActivePERS tm is a low cost medical alert pendant with automatic fall detection activity monitoring and non compliance alerts ActivePERS tm is a consumer product that has been commercialized through on going partnerships with companies in the telehealth and medical alert markets With this Phase IIB project we propose to improve our ActivePERS tm technology to enable long term remote monitoring of fall risk and frailty status An objective method for earl diagnosis intervention and remote monitoring of the risk of falling frailty using physical activit telemonitoring and feedback has not yet been developed Such technology could be used to identify patterns indicative of early changes allowing early diagnosis and intervention of at risk elders In addition it will enable remote and continuous screening of the risk of falling frailty during daily life supporting autonomy and quality of life and limiting the need for clinical intervention Moreover the technology can provide an objective tool to evaluate the effects of rehabilitation on motor function and hence on reductions in the risk of falling frailty based on te relative efficacy of different interventions There is a significant commercialization potential fo the proposed technology due to the size of the market the disruptive nature of our first to market technology and the ongoing national push towards increased efforts towards fall prevention We will have a market ready device by the completion of this project with plans for a market launch during Phase III PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE As baby boomers age and their expected life span increases the number of U S elders aged and over will dramatically rise producing unprecedented need for effective low cost diagnosis treatment and monitoring of home and community dwelling elders This study aims to develop and commercialize a novel wearable technology for activity monitoring of elders using a single and easily wearable sensor The proposed technology allows remote and continuous clinimetrically relevant screening of elderandapos s risk of falling as well as early detection and targeted intervention of those at risk of frailty