Internet-of-Things Management of Medical Chairs and Wheelchairs

Abstract

In this paper, we describe the application of the technologies of the Internet-of-Things (IoT) to the management of wheelchairs and medical chairs such as geriatric (Geri) chairs or treatment chairs. Specifically, it seeks to monitor the status of high-risk or physically-weakened patients in hospitals or care facilities as they rest on wheelchairs or await treatment on medical chairs with sensor data collected by embedded pressure and motion sensors, and provide real-time alerts to the medical staff. The potential for injuries from high-risk individuals attempting to stand and falling is very serious. The injuries often result in additional complications to the underlying health condition requiring the use of the wheelchair or treatment. The proposed IoT wheelchair and medical chair management system will alert the staff immediately when a susceptible individual stands or attempt to stand, and allow them to take immediate remedial action. The motion data from the network of sensors is further processed by machine learning models which predict occupant intent regarding sit-to-stand transition, providing preventive alerts to the staff. The research consists of two parts. The first part created IoT-connected sensors and devices used to capture the occupant’s motion on the chair and send the data to a central server. The second part developed the staff alert application that runs on mobile phones and consoles located in the nurses' stations, that receive the information from the server.