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COMMERCIALIZATION OF RESEARCH RESULTS OF THE FIRST FACULTY OF MEDICINE, CHARLES UNIVERSITY, AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER Registration number: CZ.07.1.02/0.0/0.0/17_049/0000828 |
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The project is funded by Operational Programme Prague – CR Growth Pole, call No. 32 for support of technology and knowledge transfer from research organizations into practice. |
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The project is focused on commercialization of research outputs. |
VALIDATION OF THE TECHNOLOGY CONCEPT FOR PATIENT ASSISTANCE SUFFERING FROM ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
TASA – Telemedical Assistance Systems for Alzheimer Disease Patients
The technology of assistance system for patients with various aetiologies of neurodegenerative diseases will find application not only in the healthcare sphere, but also on the border of social and rehabilitation care. The technology serves as an assisting tool for the patient, care giver, the patient’s family, and other related persons. The concept of the technology relies on use of IT supporting tools, extending the existing surveillance systems, with analysis of patient’s data facilitating early detection of worsening disease symptoms. Based on activating and cognitive exercises performed with the patient, which are also monitored by the system, the current patient’s condition can be evaluated more accurately. The acquired and assessed documentation will provide parameters for the decision-making process setting up the future activating plan. Early diagnosis and targeted therapy of Alzheimer’s disease can significantly slow down the course of this disease and, consequently, delay the onset of advanced stages.
The project is aimed at validation of the technology working with a consolidated patient’s file in the form of a structured questionnaire based on standardized tests, which will be available both to clinical centres and practitioners as a predictive factor for early detection of patients, in accordance with the National Action Plan for Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Similar Disorders.
The current system of social care successfully manages, albeit with limited capacity, the care for the elderly suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and other neurodegenerative disorders in advanced stages by accommodating them in special-regime nursing homes. Even before that, and with gradually decreasing self-sufficiency, the aged person and all other participating parties are interested in maximum prolongation of life in the home environment with the care provided by the family. The main reason is a positive impact of the well-known environment on the disease development. However, the current social care system lacks both technical and organizational means for providing care to the elderly in the home environment, when the disease has not yet fully developed and the family members cannot manage the care. The numbers of the elderly in this transient stage are very high and count tens of thousands persons. An aged Alzheimer disease patient has variable perception of reality and impaired cognitive functions. These symptoms can very quickly deteriorate and the aged person, e.g., cannot find the way home. The most frequent problematic situation tackled by the family is when the aged person leaves home without telling anyone and gets disoriented, so that the usual outcome is an extensive search for the person in the largest surroundings by the family, or even launching a hunt and participation of the police.
Regular monitoring of various body parameters or exercise results by using wearables and structured questionnaires based on MMSE can support the home care for the patient, delay the onset of the disease symptoms, and prolong the stay in the patient’s natural environment while preserving his/her personal and health security.
Technology description
The technology is IT-based and custom-made for Alzheimer disease patients and their families. It is represented by a mobile device with installed application and connected wearable sensors. The application creates structured data from these wearables, also including data on their localization. The system comprises functionalities for increasing personal security. The communication device is associated with telemedical ICT infrastructure allowing collection and evaluation of the patients’ data, which serve for better control of the disease course. Technically, the product will be in the form of a telemedical system comprised of a software part of the assisting information system, mobile application, and user peripheries that collect and assess the necessary data. The system is operated during the patient’s routine life in the home environment.
With the use of novel systems, the measured data can be automatically shared with other persons and transmitted to the central data warehouse, thus increasing the effectiveness of evaluation of the collected data and allowing timely responses.
What makes the considered solution innovative
The proposed technology supports preventive measures to avoid worsening of the patient’s condition and based on collected data finds auxiliary markers for more precise definition of the current disease state. The technology increases the patient’s personal security and provides better information on the patient’s condition to the family. The technology is designed to allow standardized communication interface with possible connection to the hospital information systems and patients’ files.
At the same time, the open interface of the entire system allows connection of the information system to the surveillance assistance desk, which is available in the 24/7 regime. The assisting service connected in this way may bring a benefit by providing nonstop support not only technical, but also professional, which by notifying or locating the patient increases his/her security.
Who will use the solution
Elderly patients, patients suffering from various forms of neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, families of these patients and a larger array of professional care givers and social service workers. The data obtained can be used by both specialists and attending practitioners.
Our team
Our team includes top specialists in development of healthcare telemedical technologies, computer programmers, testers, consultants, and students, who support the entire team and bring novel, innovative ideas. Our team has long-lasting experience in interdisciplinary collaboration on the border of medicine, technique and technology for supporting personal health. Beside experienced professionals with long-term practice, the team also includes a group of young and enthusiastic people aged up to 35 years.
CONTACTS:
Research guarantor: doc. Ing. Karel Hána, Ph.D. / karel.hana@lf1.cuni.cz
Contact for clinical trials: Mgr. Milada Luisa Šedivcová/ milada.sedivcova@lf1.cuni.cz
Medical guarantor: MUDr. Markéta Janatová / marketa.janatova2@lf1.cuni.cz
Contact for commercial partners: Ing. Vojtěch Malina /vojtech.malina@lf1.cuni.cz
Project registration number: CZ.07.1.02/0.0/0.0/17_049/0000828
Call number: 07_17_049
Governing body: Capital city of Prague
Recipient: Charles University
