Chameleon
Project Name: Chameleon
Device: Prototype of a multifunctional spirometric device
Purpose: Medical Diagnostic Tool for children's Athma management
Project Goals:
-
Easy of use by children between 6 and 14 years old
-
Comfortable
-
User friendly
-
Low cost
-
Web-enabled
-
Precise measurements
-
Track lungs function
-
Medication tracking (inhalers)
-
Spacer function
Features:
-
High accuracy air flow sensor
-
Bi-directional monitoring (inhaled and exhaled air)
-
Bluetooth 2.1
-
Built-in Li-Po rechargable battery
-
Sound and LED indications
-
Charging via mini-USB
-
Inhaler mount
-
Inhaler detector
Basic Use:
Children with asthma can use Chameleon in order to track their symptoms, the frequence of the asthma crisis events and their medication (inhaled steroids). Specif software application on smart device or computer, children could learn how to use it in a daily basis and capturing valuable medical data. These data are vital and doctors study them in order to diagnose and prevent future symptoms and change the medication dosage.
Chameleon helps producing an real medical history that can be pushed to the doctor's records via bluetooth enabled smart device without requiring extra effort by the patient. Also, it can be used as a spacer for inhalers detecting them and add their IDs to the spirometric data. Then, patients take full advantage of using a single device for multiple types of measurements.
Benefits:
-
Remote and real-time patient monitoring
-
Meaningful data for doctors
-
Better and easier management of asthma patients
-
No need for frequent visits to doctor
-
Affordable spirometer with extra functions
​
Other uses:
Adding GPS and RTC modules is a future idea about extending Chameleon's functionality. Location and time are very essential information when the user can not always carry a smartphone. In addition, it could be implemented by adding a wireless charging system. Also, we can design a new stucture for spirotube so as to be an attachable component. All these features will make the Chemeleon more convenient to easily charge and maintain it (i.e. washing the removable parts).
See also:
1. Paper publication: Management Children's Asthma
2. 1st prototype of Chameleon web site - Asthma Management Team
Development Stages
Ideal model: how patients can use it
all the efforts for wiring and some communication tests
Testing some diferrent kind of air-flow sensors and color detector
Finally, the 1st functional Chameleon prototype was built
3D printed mock-up created - time to fit the electronics
