Multi-Modal Portable Respiratory Rate Monitoring Device for Childhood Pneumonia Detection

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Medical Devices
• Pediatric Health

Background:

• Accurate respiratory rate (RR) assessment is critical for diagnosing pneumonia, a leading cause of mortality in young children, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC).
• Manual RR measurement is challenging in clinical settings due to infant distress, crying, and the need for calm cooperation, leading to potential errors and misdiagnosis.
• Existing diagnostic methods for infant pneumonia in resource-limited settings are often inadequate, highlighting the need for innovative, accessible solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel, non-invasive, wearable device for automated respiratory rate (RR) monitoring in infants.
• To provide an accurate and reliable method for RR assessment in low-resource settings, aiding in the early detection of pneumonia.
• To create a user-friendly system that can be easily operated by caregivers and integrated into mobile health (mHealth) platforms.

Main Methods:

• Development of a textile glove integrated with dry electrodes and multi-modal sensors (bio-impedance and accelerometer) for automated RR detection.
• Utilizing the relaxed posture of a child on a carer's lap for data acquisition, ensuring non-invasive measurement.
• Real-time data display and RR value output via a mobile application for remote monitoring by healthcare professionals.

Main Results:

• The prototype device demonstrated a maximum variation of ±2 breaths per minute compared to traditional manual counting methods across 10 volunteers aged 3-33 years.
• The system is non-invasive, comfortable for both child and carer, and washable.
• The device supports 60-70 sessions per day on a single charge, indicating practical utility for frequent use.

Conclusions:

• The novel textile glove-based RR monitoring device offers a promising, accurate, and accessible solution for diagnosing pneumonia in infants, especially in low-resource environments.
• The wearable, non-invasive technology enhances the reliability of RR measurements, overcoming limitations of manual methods.
• This innovation has the potential to significantly improve pediatric healthcare outcomes by enabling timely and accurate pneumonia detection through mHealth integration.