| author | title | date | image | authorImage | tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Trevor Lane |
Family Update Device |
07/16/2020 |
build, idea, tech, IOT, healthcare |
Late last year my wife delivered twins. The delivery went well, but we discovered later that day that our little boy had issues with low blood sugar. Because of this, he was transfered into the Natal Intensive Care Unit. On day one of parenthood my wife was in a hospital bed recovering from a C section, I had a new baby girl in the same hospital room as my wife and my little boy was one floor up in the NICU.
While my wife was recovering, I would make frequent trips to see our son in the NICU. When my wife was discharged, we brought our little girl home, but our little boy stayed in the NICU. During this time we would make frequent visits to the NICU. Its hard to put into words how difficult it is to take care of a new born at home and have a new born in the hospital still.
On of the most frustrating parts of this ordeal was that we would recieve very little information about our boy unless we were in the room and could ask his nurse to pull up the charts. Alternatively, we could call the NICU and wait for a nurse to take time out of their shift to give us updates.
This experience is the inspiration for an IOT device that I call F.U.D. The Family Update Device, would basically be a plastic box stuck to a hospital room wall with large buttons. The nurse would simply tap a button on their way out of the hospital room, indicating that a routine activity had occured. These activities could include diaper changes, Feedings, Medicice deliveries, etc.
Once the button is hit, the activity would be logged in an app and the family of the patient would be notified. The family member would be able to see a steady of delivery of care. They could sleep easy at night, sure that their loved one is getting the care needed.
Currently, I have a rough protoype of the circuit needed, and a mobile app. I also have a 3D rendering of the container that I will 3D print.
Although my son is healthy and out of the NICU now, I think this device could still be useful for people with loved one's in places like the NICU or assisted living centers. Especially during this time because of the pandemic, family can't visit patients nearly as often. Thus, it would be nice to recieve updates and assurance of care in other ways.