Wireless and Battery-Free Biosignal Monitoring using Passive RFID Tags

Wearable health monitoring devices are becoming increasingly ubiquitous in clinical settings and even in monitoring daily activities. This recent spurt in wearable devices has been made possible through the development of low power electronics, small footprint components and efficient data transmission methods. The next big step in making monitoring devices more 'wearable' is the elimination of batteries. Without the need to replace and recharge batteries, monitoring can be uninterrupted and the monitoring device itself can be seamlessly integrated into garments. However, to achieve this goal, merely reducing sensor power consumption is not enough. There is a need for unconventional methods of health monitoring. par In this work, a novel passive Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) based method for transmitting health parameters wirelessly and without batteries is described. The dissertation proposes an innovative method of transmitting health parameter data by simply turning RFID tags on and off. Technology for RFID based continuous monitoring that include a wireless power harvester and low-power circuits for amplification and health parameter detection are developed in this research. The dissertation includes practical applications of the technology that are demonstrated using heart rate and uterine contraction monitoring as examples. Empirical tests for characterizing the heart rate monitoring system are also conducted. The heart rate monitoring technology is validated with human testing which showed a correlation of over 99% between actual and detected heart rate data.Ph.D., Electrical Engineering -- Drexel University, 201

Periventricular leukomalacia in a preterm neonate with early onset Capnocytophaga sepsis

Capnocytophaga sputigena is a slow-growing, capnophilic, gram negative, anaerobic, fusiform bacilli residing in oropharyngeal cavity of mammals. In humans, it causes localized periodontal infections and sporadic invasive infections in immunocompromised persons. Infrequently, it does cause chorioamnionitis and perinatal infections and is generally of lower morbidity risk in fetus and neonates. We describe a rare case report of early-onset neonatal Capnocytophaga sepsis with culture negative meningitis in preterm infant who developed early cystic periventricular leukomalacia in second week of life. Though neonatal Capnocytophaga infection is probably under-reported due to its fastidious nature and subclinical infection in mother, this case reminds that Capnocytophaga may be responsible for some occult cases of early neonatal septicemia, and that the organism may be more virulent in premature neonates with possibility of development of periventricular leukomalacia and neurological morbidities

Design and analysis of a FSO MIMO transmitter receiver circuit compatible with space time coding

Free Space Optical (FSO) interconnects can resolve several existing problems in current copper-based chip-to-chip and board-to-board communications, including electromagnetic interference and limited data capacity. FSO systems can overcome these limitations by employing Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) schemes which increase the number of parallel datastreams. However, due to the increase in the number of transmitters and receivers, MIMO FSO systems are prone to optical crosstalk due to misalignment of components and divergence of optical transmitters. Space time coding (STC) is a technique that can potentially mitigate the problems caused by optical crosstalk in FSO systems. However, hardware suitable for implementation of STC on MIMO FSO systems has yet to be realized. This thesis describes the design and testing of a MIMO transceiver system suitable for implementing STC. The designed system includes a 4 4 transmitter board, two designs for the receiver board and the optical elements required for such communication. A prototype Single Input Single Output (SISO) link is constructed to characterize the system by performing several tests, including data rate tests, range tests, power tests and noise analysis. A Multiple Input Single Output (MISO) system is also characterized to provide experimental inputs in a simulation which demonstrates the practical e ffectiveness of STC in FSO systems.M.S., Electrical Engineering -- Drexel University, 201

A REVIEW ON DESIGN AND OPTIMIZATION OF FLANGE OF (B5) FLANGE MOUNTING MOTOR

The paper discusses brief review of literature on design and optimization of flange of B5 mounting motor. The main objective of the review is to provide base to problem identification and to find out recent developments in design and optimization of flange of B5 flange mounting motor. The inputs provided by the sponsoring industry are critically studied and relevant literature has been identified and summarizedin relation with the problem

Use of web-based game in neonatal resuscitation - is it effective?

Background: Knowledge and skills decline within months post simulation-based training in neonatal resuscitation. To empower ‘Millennial’ learners to take control of their own learning, a single-player, unguided web-based Neonatal Resuscitation Game was designed. The present study investigates the effectiveness of the game on retention of resuscitation knowledge and skills. Methods: The study evaluated 162 healthcare professionals who attended simulation-based training in neonatal resuscitation. Following standard simulation-based training, participants were assigned to either a gaming group (Gamers) with access to the web-based Neonatal Resuscitation Game or a control group (Controls) with no access to the game. Although Gamers were given access, game utilization was completely voluntary and at will. Some Gamers chose to utilize the web-based game (Players) and others did not (Non-players). Knowledge and skills in neonatal resuscitation were assessed upon completion of training and 6 months post-training using a multiple-choice question test and a manikin-based skills test. Changes in scores were compared statistically between Gamers vs Controls, Players vs Controls, and Players vs Controls + Non-players using two-sample t-tests. Results: At the final assessment, declines in knowledge scores were seen in all groups. Mean change from baseline in knowledge and skill performance scores at 6 months, adjusted for baseline skill performance and MCQ test scores, did not differ significantly between Players vs Controls and Players vs Controls + Non-players. Conclusion: The web-based game in its current format may not be effective in facilitating retention of knowledge and technical skills in neonatal resuscitation.Published versio