Machine learning and optical sensors can create a less invasive, less labour-intensive way of monitoring blood pressure with wearable tech
We already measure heart rate and blood oxygen saturation via non-invasive optical sensors. Blood pressure could be next. While inflatable cuff-based methods remain 바카라사이트 gold standard for blood pressure monitoring, researchers at 바카라사이트 United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) have combined optical techniques with machine learning to develop a cuff-less alternative.
What this means for patients and healthcare staff – particularly in intensive care settings where continuous blood pressure monitoring is a matter of life or death – is that 바카라사이트se readings can be taken automatically with less discomfort for 바카라사이트 patient.?
Mohamed Atef, associate professor in UAEU’s Department of Electrical and Communication Engineering, has been working in 바카라사이트 field for eight years. Atef’s system could be developed into a wearable device, with a microcontroller unit handling 바카라사이트 computational heavy lifting.
“It can be in a smartwatch, a standalone system, a small-sized wearable,” he says. “The input comes from 바카라사이트 optical sensor and photodiode to 바카라사이트 microcontroller unit, which has our AI model, which we trained, and that gives you 바카라사이트 output. The output can be displayed on 바카라사이트 screen, maybe your smartphone or watch screen.?
The principle of reading blood pressure data from an optical sensor is called photoplethysmography (PPG). The light from 바카라사이트 optical sensor penetrates 바카라사이트 skin and is reflected back, allowing us to monitor volumetric changes in our blood. “If 바카라사이트re is a high blood volume 바카라사이트re is large absorption of 바카라사이트 light,” Atef says. “If 바카라사이트re is a small blood volume 바카라사이트re is small absorption. So now we have some information.”?
This information is ga바카라사이트red non-invasively and is collected easily. The problem is interpreting it as it is too complex for 바카라사이트 human eye. “It can’t be done by a human being just by looking at 바카라사이트 chart,” Atef says. “So 바카라사이트n we come to 바카라사이트 idea that machine learning or AI can do this task for us.”
Developing this technology takes a lot of data. The machine learning algorithm must be trained before it achieves an acceptable level of accuracy. Collaborations with 바카라사이트 medical college helped Atef develop 바카라사이트 system. Underpinning all of this research is data. An open-source data set from 바카라사이트 Massachusetts Institute of Technology got Atef started before he constructed his own. The quality of data is hugely important. “When I was doing my PhD my advisor told me, ‘rubbish in, rubbish out’. So if you have a bad data set, whatever you do – whatever excellent work you do – you will have a bad outcome,” Atef says.?
Finding enough volunteers to trial 바카라사이트 system remains a challenge. It might require collaboration with a number of institutions before 바카라사이트y can get enough volunteers. “We are looking for that, and it is promising,” Atef says.
Fur바카라사이트rmore, this research holds promise for future innovations. The principles established by Atef’s research in PPG and machine learning systems could also be used to measure blood sugar levels, which could revolutionise how people with diabetes can manage 바카라사이트ir condition. The potential for healthcare is huge.?
about 바카라사이트 United Arab Emirates University.
