Researchers at Northwestern University have received a $200,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to continue developing a wearable device that can catch early signs of the coronavirus.
Launched by a Northwestern team led by John Rogers, a well-known materials science researcher, and the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, the device is designed to be worn 24/7 on a patient's neck. The device, launched earlier this spring, uses artificial intelligence to detect suspicious coughing and respiratory activity that suggest a patient could have coronavirus. It monitors coughing intensity and patterns, chest wall movements, irregular breathing, respiratory sounds, heart rate and body temperature.
The goal is to help physicians determine if a patient’s cough is caused by Covid-19 or something more benign.
The project received a rapid response research grant from the NSF, which will help incorporate advanced data analytics and a sensor to measure oxygen levels.
“Our device addresses a key issue in the Covid-19 pandemic: the limited capacity of healthcare systems,” Rogers said in a statement. “By continuously monitoring high-risk individuals, such as healthcare workers and the elderly, we can minimize the number of unnecessary hospital visits and provide an early warning to enable preventive measures.”
The device, which is about the size of a postage stamp, is soft, flexible and wireless. It sits just below the suprasternal notch, the visible dip at the base of the throat. As the device collects patient data, it wirelessly transmits it to a HIPAA-protected cloud, where automated algorithms produce graphical summaries tailored to help healthcare professionals facilitate rapid, remote monitoring.
Rogers heads up the Rogers Lab in Northwestern's McCormick School of Engineering and is known for innovative devices like a new sweat patch that was worn by Serena Williams in a recent Gatorade commercial.
