STUDENTS’ INNOVATION CREATES SAFER HEALTHCARE ENVIRONMENT DURING OUTBREAKS

• Wireless technology to benefit healthcare workers in monitoring patients with contagious diseases

• Collaboration a first between Renesas and a local polytechnic

Singapore, 24 October 2007 – SARS is long gone but not forgotten. The crisis has created a need to look into how contacts between medical workers and quarantined patients in similar or more threatening scenarios can be managed with better care and efficiency. Motivated by that need, a group of final year students from Republic Polytechnic’s School of Engineering have successfully designed a set of monitoring systems that now enables healthcare workers to supervise their high-risk patients at all times from a safe distance. These innovations were disclosed at the launch of RP-Renesas Embedded Systems Laboratory and signing ceremony earlier today.

The joint laboratory is sponsored by Renesas Technology Singapore and it is the fist laboratory set-up in a local polytechnic.  With a contribution of $300,000 worth from Renesas, the laboratory will be dedicated to developing further study in the innovative and creative uses of embedded systems for applications in healthcare, digital entertainment, intelligent home and office, real time location sensing and sports performance enhancement.. The fully operational laboratory will also boost RP’s academic curriculum, facilitate R&D works under RP’s Technology Development Centres and  help train the industry in embedded systems.

Commenting on the students’ success, Mr Fong Yew Chan (Director, School of Engineering) from RP said, “What has  been developed here is a set of systems that could possibly save lives. This  in itself is a medical breakthrough. We are happy that our students are making a tangible contribution to improving the conditions in which we deliver our healthcare services. I am confident that there will be more students who will be inspired by their peers and be encouraged to look into current processes and come out with further innovative solutions.”

The innovative system solutions were showcased through a series of creative skits before an audience of  200 guests representing RP, Renesas, industry professionals and the media.

The three innovations presented through the use of skits are:

·         Vital Signs Monitoring System for Communicable Disease Patients - this is a wireless device that records patient’s vital information and is especially useful for high-risk patients who  suffer from contagious diseases.  By using this device, doctors and nurses are able to monitor and record patients’ vital information from a safe distance, thus reducing the risk of infection.

·         Postural Assessment System for Patients under Physiotherapy -  this device helps doctors and physiotherapists to be more accurate and certain when making qualitative assessments of patients under physiotherapy. The new system is intelligent enough to accurately provide a quantitative analysis of the patient’s postural condition.

·         Neuropathy Diagnosis System for Diabetic Patients     - this device is to aid medical professionals in detecting the neuropathic condition of diabetic patients by sending vibrations into a patient’s extremities instead of using a tuning fork.  By using this method, the medical professionals would be able to ascertain confidently if the patient can sense any vibrations, thereby indicating whether they  require further  medical attention or  otherwise.

RP and Renesas are expecting a positive response from the healthcare industry as these systems are evidently useful and more efficient than current systems.. Besides ensuring that medical establishments and staff are better equipped, these systems also improve the levels of comfort and well-being of the patients. For example, wireless recording and monitoring of patients’ vital information now mean that patients can  enjoy their rest time uninterrupted.