Executive Summary : | Apnea, a common respiratory irregularity in neonates, is a serious concern that needs to be monitored shortly after birth. Current contact-based devices are not practical for delicate or premature neonates, and their frequent feeding schedules may make it difficult to use them for extended periods. This proposal aims to develop a non-contact small form-factor device for apnea monitoring in neonates using RF radar. RF radars are being studied for their ability to sense micro-level parameters, but they have not been reported for neonatal apnea monitoring. The main challenge is to detect mm-scale changes in the neonate's body due to breathing and be insensitive to baby posture. The proposed device will work on the principle of MIMO radar, with the main challenge being to detect mm-scale changes in the neonate's body due to breathing. The device will monitor the neonates' cross-section area for posture-independent breathing pattern detection. MIMO beamforming will be designed to ensure detection is unaffected even if the neonate is surrounded by parents or doctors. Machine learning-based techniques will be developed in cases where certain parameters or models are unknown. A proof-of-concept device will be developed based on technical insights gained. Currently, hospital equipment costs around 2 Lakhs for apnea detection in neonates. This work is a significant step towards ensuring neonatal safety and making them commercially viable for widespread use. It can also be used to detect other respiratory diseases like asthma and COVID-19, as well as study the effect of alternative therapies like yoga and pranayam. |
Co-PI: | Dr. Satyam Agarwal, Indian Institute Of Technology (IIT) Ropar, Punjab-140001, Dr. Sam Darshi, Indian Institute Of Technology (IIT) Ropar, Punjab-140001, Prof. Jyotindra Singh Sahambi, Indian Institute Of Technology (IIT) Ropar, Punjab-140001, Dr. Suksham Jain, Government Medical College And Hospital, Chandigarh-160047, Dr. Deepak Chawla, Government Medical College And Hospital, Chandigarh-160047 |