Towards the Design and Development of an Embedded System for Detecting Silent Aspiration
Anitha G, Sneha N and Krishnaraj A. P.

Department of Biomedical Engineering, SRM Kattankulathur, Chennai, India.

Corresponding Author E-mail: anitha.g@ktr.srmuniv.ac.in

Abstract: This design describes a mobile prototype for detecting silent aspiration in children, people with neurological disorders using various biosignals such the measurement of the respiratory rate, pulse rate and oxygen saturation. Pulmonary Aspiration is when food or other particles enter from the pharynx into the larynx, often leading to pneumonia or rarely, fatal asphyxiation. In some patients with dysphagia, silent aspiration occurs, where the aspirating patient does not show any sign such as coughing at all. It is common in stroke patients and infants with neurological disorders such as down syndrome and cerebral palsy. The prototype provides signals that can be displayed with NI-myDAQ (LabVIEW). The signals are acquired with the help of a prototype respiratory belt tied around the chest containing a piezo sensor that senses pressure sending electric signals that will help analyse the breath pattern of the patient. The prototype is fitted with a sensor for measuring the pulse rate of the patient through photoplethysmography. They are all connected to a primary Arduino Nano Microcontroller based on the ATmega328P. Housed in a portable container which also contains an LCD display that can display the real time data. The device has an alert system by means of an LED and a Buzzer, the LED signals whenever there’s a pressure and the alarm sounds when there is a gap in the respiratory movement of the patient due to aspiration.

Keywords: Lab VIEW; Pulse Rate; Respiration Sensor;  Silent Aspiration; Signal Processing

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