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. 2021 Jun:2021:10.1109/iccworkshops50388.2021.9473520.
doi: 10.1109/iccworkshops50388.2021.9473520. Epub 2021 Jul 9.

BandPass: A Bluetooth-Enabled Remote Monitoring Device for Sarcopenia

Suehayla Mohieldin  1 , John A Batsis  2 , Colin M Minor  1 , Ryan J Halter  3 , Curtis L Petersen  4
Affiliations

BandPass: A Bluetooth-Enabled Remote Monitoring Device for Sarcopenia

Suehayla Mohieldin et al. IEEE Int Conf Commun Workshops. 2021 Jun.

Abstract

As the United States population ages, managing pathologies that largely affect older adults, including sarcopenia (i.e., loss of muscle mass and strength) represents a significant and growing clinical challenge. In addition to increased rates of sarcopenia with age, its incidence and impact increase after acute illness, increasing the risk of functional decline, institutionalization, or death. Resistance-based exercises promote muscle regeneration and strength and are an advised therapy for such patients. Yet, such therapeutic exercises are normally conducted either under direct clinical oversight or unsupervised by patients at home, where compliance rates are low. The presented device, BandPass, aims to create an integrated force data detection and acquisition system for monitoring and transmitting at-home exercise force data to patients and clinicians. A potentiometer-based sensor was integrated to a resistance exercise band through the use of custom designed electronics, which incorporated Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) for wireless transmission to a mobile 'app'. A protocol for calibrating the device was developed using a range of loads and validated in static benchtop and dynamic testing. Data from a pilot study with 7 older adults was also collected and analyzed to test the device. BandPass is 94% accurate with a coefficient of variation (CoV) of 4.9% and sensitivity of 150g. The pilot study recorded 147 exercises, allowing for analysis on patients' exercise performances. BandPass was successfully able to measure force continuously over time during exercises, measure longitudinal compliance with exercises, and quantify force continuously over time. A mobile health (mHealth) force-sensing system allows for the remote monitoring of prescribed in-home resistance exercise band programs for at-risk older adults, bridging the gap between clinicians and patients.

Keywords: Medical device; biomedical engineering; force measurement; mHealth; remote medical sensing; resistance-based training; sarcopenia.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Depiction of hardware components: A) BandPass overview B) close up of prototype device which consists of a band adhered to a linear potentiometer, a custom printed circuit board, a BLE System-on-Chip integrated circuit, a power switch, a custom 3D printed casing, and handle; C) mechanism in which band is adhered to potentiometer.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
BandPass circuit block diagram- Main electrical processes: power management block captures USB charging of device and connected to MCU; ADC signal from microcontroller is sent to force sensing circuit; user interface (UI) includes a switch and LEDs for power/battery verification.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Data Pipeline and Flow
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
BandPass calibration data
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
BandPass calibration curve example relating force and voltage
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
BandPass's accuracy for measuring random loads
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
BandPass's repeatability across multiple days
Fig. 8
Fig. 8
Controlled T-lift exercise performed by single user across 3 days
Fig. 9
Fig. 9
Bicep curl performed by single user for 10 reps
Fig. 10
Fig. 10
Seated row performed by single user for 9 reps
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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