Browse Topic: Age groups
The aging of the population has been a key issue worldwide, with mobility and fall of the elderly an important problem to be solved. In this paper, we propose an elderly mobility assist system based on the intelligent power-assisted device consisting of an assistive cane and an intelligent companion. It has the functions of standing support after falling, daily support and on-site rest. The assistive cane adopts a two-stage expansion mechanism of crank and slider structure, which forms a stable triangular support after unfolding, so that the patient can stand safely. The intelligent companion platform is driven by drive wheels, equipped with pushrod motors and vacuum suction devices, it can automatically approach the user and form an stable support column when the cane is in the out-of reach range; the control system is designed by combining microcontroller, camera object recognition, wristband remote control, to realize automatic steering and autonomous navigation at differential speed. The overall design satisfies the requirements of safety and strength through mechanical verification and stress analysis. The proposed system can help the elderly people to recover from falls better and enhance their independence and safety in their daily walks.
This paper proposes HaloBus, an innovative, edge-computing solution designed to mitigate this risk by detecting student boarding and exiting in real time using lightweight AI based methods. A persistent challenge in elementary school transportation is the issue of missing students after they exit their buses, which disproportionately impacts low-income households. Current safety systems place the burden of implementation on individual households, often requiring independent methods. Common methods include applications on a personal device or a small tracker. However, not everyone can afford these options, and ensuring child safety is a primary concern for parents and caregivers. That is why HaloBus was invented. The system employs YOLOv5us—an Ultralytics-enhanced, anchor-free, split-head architecture that offers a superior accuracy speed trade-off. By providing real-time, on-device alerts, HaloBus enables immediate intervention to prevent a student from being left behind, thereby shifting the focus from reactive post-incident response to proactive safety. Trained on over 70,000 labeled and unlabeled images, the model can accurately detect multiple students simultaneously, significantly reducing false positives. In real-world deployment, the model sustained 30 frames per second on the Raspberry Pi and achieved detection confidence levels exceeding 75% even when subjects wore sunglasses or hoodies. With opt-in participation for each family, HaloBus effectively balances detection efficiency and privacy protection. Overall, HaloBus offers a low-cost, scalable, and ethically conscious approach to enhancing school-bus safety by delivering reliable, on-device boarding and exit detection for multiple students in varied real-world conditions.
Rear-facing infant seats that are positioned behind front outboard vehicle seats are at risk of being compromised by the rearward yielding of occupied front seat seatbacks during rear-impact collisions. This movement can cause the plastic shell of the infant seat to collapse and deform, increasing the risk of head injuries to the infant. Current designs of rear-facing infant seats typically do not consider the loading effects from the front seatback during rear-impact situations, which results in weak and collapsible shell structures. Moreover, regulatory compliance tests, such as FMVSS 213, do not include assessments of rear-facing infant seats under realistic rear-impact conditions. as the bench used for the regulatory test lacks realistic vehicle interior components. This study emphasizes the need for revised testing methodologies that employ sled tests with realistic seatback intrusion conditions to facilitate the development of improved infant seat designs. Research shows that rear-facing infant seats designed for real-world loading conditions can improve safety and injury outcomes for infants in severe rear-impact collisions in the presence of front-occupied seats.
During the first two years of life, the motor development of children is monitored closely, as motion is the natural base for their other development and interaction with the environment. Current methods do not allow accurate developmental monitoring throughout early childhood.
Researchers have created a groundbreaking prototype for a new kind of leadless pacemaker designed for both children and adults. The innovative micropacemaker would be the first fully leadless system to be placed in the pericardial space surrounding the heart. That would allow the device to be implanted in a minimally invasive way in children and those with congenital heart disease, while also providing a lower-risk leadless pacemaker option for adults.
Engineers have developed a smart lactation pad that can quantify a wide range of chemicals in breast milk in real time. This work is pioneering the first wearable, rapid sensor for at-home measurement of chemicals in breast milk, addressing an important technology gap for improving the health of the mother and the baby.
It’s a game a lot of us played as children — and maybe even later in life: unspooling measuring tape to see how far it would extend before bending. But to engineers at the University of California San Diego, this game was an inspiration, suggesting that measuring tape could become a great material for a robotic gripper.
Neonatal patients in need of specialized care may require transport by rotary-wing air ambulances. These patients are subjected to environmental stressors during transport, including elevated levels of mechanical vibration. Aircraft vibration is transmitted through the transport system and incubator to the patient. The unique vibration profile is dependent on vehicle model and phase of flight. To improve safety for these patients, we aim to evaluate the vibration exposure across this complex system. The purpose of this paper is to present and evaluate the methods used for aircraft data collection and replication of aircraft vibration profiles in a laboratory setting. Our current focus is on neonatal transportation in Ontario, Canada, where Leonardo AW139 helicopters are used for patient transport. AW139 field data were collected and processed to generate excitation profiles for discrete phases of flight. The vehicle data were used to drive a series of laboratory shaker-table experiments, in three axes, to evaluate the response of different configurations of the transport system. We present the methods used to simulate transport conditions, from vehicle data collection to laboratory shaker experimentation, and evaluate the behavior of the test apparatus. The simulated motion has been verified against the aircraft data to identify sources of error in the experimental setup. Some limitations in the shaker and control system present inherent differences in the input and response; however, it was found that the greatest spectral error occurred outside the frequency range of interest (>80 Hz), and that the shaker controller successfully replicates the energy levels recorded in the aircraft. The shaker experiment results, such as the response of the transport system and incubator, will be analysed in future work to identify equipment configurations and/or modifications which can reduce neonatal patient vibration exposure during rotary-wing transportation.
Researchers have developed a pacifier designed to monitor a baby’s electrolyte levels in real time, potentially eliminating the need for repeated invasive blood draws. The team constructed a tiny tunnel, or microfluidic channel, into the body of the pacifier.
The Hospital for Sick Children/University of Toronto Toronto, ON, Canada
Chocolate-flavored pills for children who hate taking medicine. Several drugs combined into one daily pill for seniors who have trouble remembering to take their medications. Drugs printed at your local pharmacy at personalized dosages that best suit your health needs. These are just a few potential advantages of 3D drug printing, a new system for manufacturing drugs and treatments on-site at pharmacies, healthcare facilities, and other remote locations.
Some infants are born prematurely or with medical conditions that require them to stay in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Typically, these infants spend most of their time in an incubator as it provides a safe and controlled environment. At times, these infants will need to be transported via helicopter from one hospital to another, which exposes their already fragile bodies to higher levels of vibration. Helicopters, while advantageous for medical transport, generate substantial vibration due to rotor dynamics. Current models of incubators lack specific design for reducing vibrations. This project proposes a functional vibration damper that can be integrated into existing neonatal incubators, aiming to enhance infant safety during air transport. ANSYS modeling identified low-density polyethylene foam as an effective material for vibration reduction. Flight simulation tests demonstrated the 2" polyethylene mattress reduced vibrations at low amplitudes and frequencies, but challenges arose at higher values. The prototype addresses the critical need for reducing vibrations in neonatal incubators during air transport. While successful in initial tests, further extensive testing is required for potential implementation in the medical industry.
Researchers have designed a lightweight helmet with tiny LEGO-size sensors that scan the brain while a person moves. The helmet is the first of its kind to accurately record magnetic fields generated by brain activity while people are in motion. This advance could make it easier to conduct brain scans in young children and individuals with neurological disorders who can’t always remain still in conventional scanners.
Researchers at the EPFL have achieved a breakthrough in the treatment of tracheomalacia, a condition characterized by weak tracheal cartilage and muscles that normally keep the airway open for proper breathing. The team, composed of EPFL engineers and CHUV pediatric airway surgeons, has successfully developed a novel adhesive hydrogel patch that can effectively alleviate tracheomalacia, providing hope for improved treatment options for this challenging condition. The proof of concept was recently published in iScience.
A low-cost biosensor, called Neosens, will allow doctors to diagnose sepsis in a matter of minutes. Neosens works by detecting interleukin 6, a messenger that’s secreted by newborns’ immune systems in response to a host of biological conditions. It’s also the main early marker for sepsis.
Pyrotechnic seat belt pretensioners typically remove 8–15 cm of belt slack and help couple an occupant to the seat. Our study investigated pretensioner deployment on forward-leaning, live volunteers. The forward-leaning position was chosen because research indicates that passengers frequently depart from a standard sitting position. Characteristics of the 3D kinematics of forward-leaning volunteers following pretensioner deployment determines if body size is correlated with subject response. Nine adult subjects (three female), ages 18–43 years old, across a wide range of body sizes (50–120 kg) were tested. The age was limited to young, active adults as pyrotechnic pretensioners can deliver a notable force to the trunk. Subjects assumed a forward-leaning position, with 26 cm between C7 and the headrest, in a laboratory setting that replicated the passenger seat of a vehicle. At an unexpected time, the pretensioner was deployed. 3D kinematics were measured through a nine-camera motion capture system with reflective markers on the left and right glabella, tragus, manubrium, C7, lateral proximal head of humerus, olecranon process, patella, and lateral malleolus. For uniformity, all pretensioners were of the same model made by Autoliv and were dual systems (having deployment in the retractor and outbound anchor). The initial velocity of the trunk (first 50 ms) was dependent on the body size, with smaller subjects getting pulled back quicker. Following the first ~160 ms, there was a slight rebound where subjects briefly moved forward, followed by a period of high intersubject variance in movement. By isolating the effects of pyrotechnic pretensioner deployment on live volunteers, this study fills in an important gap in automotive safety research and may help with evaluating computer models or designing future restraint systems with advanced sensor technology where pretensioners deploy prior to significant vehicle deceleration.
Strep throat is a common and treatable childhood disease in the United States, but in less wealthy countries, children afflicted with strep can develop rheumatic fever, in which runaway inflammation attacks the body’s tissues. Rheumatic fever often damages the valves of the heart, causing rheumatic heart disease that can lead to serious health problems, including heart failure.
Side door latches in an automotive play a major role in occupants’ safety. The latches consist of both retention assembly and actuator assembly. The actuator assembly majorly consists of motor, gear & other components and these are protected through a Plastic Lower case and Housing. The Lower case (over-mold) with the Electrical Component Carrier - ECC (pre-mold) plays an important role in providing electrical power supply to the latch system. Since these parts are manufactured with terminal traces & plastics, upfront mold flow simulations help the product teams to evaluate the short fills, warpage, and other quality aspects in the critical areas of these components. In the part assembly station, the ECC (pre-mold) and the Lower case (over-mold) are connected to the Motor on one side and the Connector on the other. The proper alignment of the pre-mold pins is of great importance and the pre-mold must not be externally visible once the molding is complete. During the prototype build, the pins were offset/dislocated due to pre-mold shift. This in turn caused deformation of the Over-mold resulting in dimensional inconsistency leading to assembly & functional issues. This issue was complex since the part couldn’t be modified structurally because of the constraints in packaging as these interfaces with the backplate & the child feature would affect its integrity. Here, overcoming the ‘pre-mold’ shift was an important aspect to keep the Lower-case pins within the location limits ensuring a proper part assembly. However, it was challenging to control the ‘pre-mold’ shift defect merely based upon the molding manufacturing knowledge. Hence, we had to utilize ‘core-deflection analysis’ method in Moldex-3D, an injection molding specialized software, to verify the cause of ‘pre-mold’ shift and correct the problem. Virtual simulation technique has helped to resolve the issue and same technic was used in production tool. This paper will provide an insight to both the methodologies used and the tooling changes required to achieve the product assembly requirements.
One in 10 adults suffer from the debilitating effects of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Research around a new breathing device developed by pulmonologists at the University of Cincinnati offers promise for improving their lives.
Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg has partnered with Alquist, a 3D printing home construction company, to 3D print homes in Williamsburg, VA. In December 2021, the pair produced and sold the first 3D-printed home in the nation — an approximately 1,200-square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bathroom house whose foundation, walls, and footing were 3D printed in July 2022 in just 28 hours for Surry-native April and her teenage son.
There are about 64 million cases of heart failure worldwide. According to the American Heart Association, 6.2 million adults in the United States have heart failure and that number is estimated to increase to 8 million by 2030. Heart failure is a progressive clinical syndrome characterized by a structural abnormality of the heart, in which the heart is unable to pump sufficient blood to meet the body’s requirements.
Researchers in Japan have developed the first wearable devices to precisely monitor jaundice, a yellowing of the skin caused by elevated bilirubin levels in the blood that can cause severe medical conditions in newborns. Jaundice can be treated easily by irradiating the infant with blue light that breaks bilirubin down to be excreted through urine. The treatment itself, however, can disrupt bonding time, cause dehydration, and increase the risks of allergic diseases. Neonatal jaundice is one of the leading causes of death and brain damage in infants in low- and middle-income countries.
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