PORTABLE AED KIT
A reinnovated personal Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
13 weeks (August 2019 - November 2019)
In collaboration with Mavis, Glenys, Yixuan, and Kazuki
A collaboration between Nanyang Technological University and Nagoya Institute of Technology
Sponsored by Sense Things Japan
Design Brief:
Innovate a product for public safety
Background
Cardiac arrest is a public safety issue that can happen to any member of the public anywhere and anytime, regardless of age, gender and fitness level. It happens when the heart stops beating suddenly, and concerns the life and death of an individual.
The chance of survival of an individual decreases by 7% every minute he or she is left unattended. Immediate CPR and AED can result in 60% individual survival rate, so the amount of time taken by a responder to provide help is critical and crucial.
Public support, through the knowledge and use of CPR and AED, is very important in determining the survival rate of cardiac arrest. Most public spaces (i.e. lift lobbies) have AED on stand-by, ready for use. However, for high-risk persons, can we innovate a solution to ensure timely public response to cardiac-related emergencies?
Conceptualization
Form factors similar to a wearable bracelet or watch are explored. After evaluating the current dimensions of a portable AED demo kit, it is more feasible to house the AED kit in a sling bag.
Working Principles
The following details the working principles of the portable AED kit:
1. Detect: When a fall is detected, the accelerometer senses a change and sense a signal to the system.
2. Verify: The wearable will vibrate as a pre-alert signal and wait for verification or cancellation. In case of a false alarm, the user may press a button for cancellation within 8 seconds before further alarms are activated.
3a & 3b. Alert & Communicate: After 8 seconds, a sound alert will be emitted and lights on the wearable and AED bag will start to flash in synchronization. These alarms are meant to attract attention and alert responders nearby that help is required. An automatic alert will also be sent to a nearby hospital for follow-up.
4. Instruct: The wearable audio will instruct "AED Emergency! Please help! Open the bag!". Responders will follow the visual and audio instructions on the AED to perform the procedure while waiting for medical personnel to arrive.
Wearable Housing Design
Based on the given electronics for the wearable, dimensions were taken and the enclosure was designed in SolidWorks.
Prototyping
The portable AED was housed in a readily available, off-the-shelf sling bag. In order to allow responders to easily identify the bag, light strips are installed along the perimeter of it. The lights on the bag flash in the same sequence as the lights on the wearable to inform responders of their correlation.
Final Prototype: A AED Wearable + Bag Kit
The project was awarded the First Runner-Up Prize out of 11 teams in the module's final presentation.
*Before a fall is detected
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*After a fall is detected
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