STICK HANDLE EQUIPPED WITH PULSE OXIMETER

Description

Demographic change in developed societies has increased the number of older people who need a cane to walk. On the other hand, blood oxygen saturation and heart rate are variables in common clinical use, and their measurement has been extended to the domestic environment with the appearance of “wearable” devices such as smart watches that incorporate these devices. The implementation of a pulse oximeter integrated in the handle of a cane is proposed. Although the acquisition and processing electronics are shared, measurements are taken using various sets of LEDs and photodetectors distributed on the handle of the baton, to obtain reliable results. The integration of a pulse oximeter in a cane allows to follow the state of the people who use this auxiliary device and helps to protect them against situations of sudden fatigue or diseases of different nature. Compared to other options, the integration in the handle of a cane monitors the critical moment in which the user moves, and at the same time increases adherence to use, as it is a device that is needed, in any case, and it is not perceived as a foreign object or difficult to handle.

Advantages

There are “wearable” devices such as a bracelet or watch that incorporate a pulse oximeter. Compared to these devices, the present proposal has the following advantages:
The use of a cane has the advantage of allowing the measurement of variables related to walking (“gait”), which has been shown to be related to the state of health. It also increases adherence, since people who need the cane will be monitored without the need for additional devices, and they will also be monitored in the most critical moments in which movements occur and there is a risk, for example, of falls .
People with dementia often remove their bracelets and watches, which they cannot do with a cane.
The aging of the population in advanced societies makes it advisable to develop remote health monitoring devices that are easy to use.

Uses and Applications

Telemedicine sector applied to the elderly, and in general, people with mobility problems, users of a cane or crutch. The device can be for home use or for use in residences or hospitals.