Real-time patient weight monitoring system for chair based renal dialysis

A system is described for monitoring weight changes in patients undergoing renal dialysis. Relatively fit patients dialyse in easy chairs rather than in bed but no commercial system is currently available to monitor weight changes under these conditions. The authors have considered basic requirements and have developed a cost effective system based on a Single Point Off-Centre load cell, all components being mounted under a platform on which the easy chair is located. There is an electrical output signal which may be used to drive a display or be sampled by a computer system.