Sensor Technology and Signal Processing

Medical Sensor Technology

Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits

We are developing miniaturized intelligent sensor systems that gather a person’s most important vital parameters around the clock, which are of essential relevance as well in the clinical as in the ambulant sphere. Signal and data processing methods assure medically valid information. In different applications and projects we developed patient-supporting sensors and systems that can be used in everyday life. Furthermore, we offer development services and consultation.

FitnessSHIRT: Improving Safety through Telemonitoring
The Fraunhofer IIS FitnessSHIRT features measuring equipment for ECG and respiration recording. Sensors are integrated into the shirt for user friendliness, ease of handling and wearing comfort. With one-channel ECG and chest respiratory motion recording, the FitnessSHIRT delivers measurements for two key vital signs.
Fitness Assistant
Designed to help elderly people retain their mobility, the Fitness Assistant is an intelligent tracksuit that provides a personal health and fitness program.
Motion Sensing and Classification Physical Activity Assessment
ActiSENS is a motion sensor that continuously measures its wearer's physical activity. The sensor classifies all body movements into six types, awards the user a certain number of points for each and calculates a score, thus providing an objective measure of the user's activity levels. This small wearable device was developed to motivate children and adults to take more exercise.
RespiSHIRT
Monitoring of respiration is important in many areas. Important applications in the medical field include neonatal and premature care, sleep diagnostics and patient telecare/home care. Another application area is sports. Recreational and elite athletes alike can gain information about their respiratory frequency and effort.
MotionSENS
Scientists at Fraunhofer IIS have developed an intelligent motion sensor for use in telecare for high-risk patients and the elderly. The sensor, which can be either worn directly on the body much like an adhesive bandage or embedded in clothes, determines the patient's body position (upright, stooping, lateral or supine).
SomnoSENS
With SomnoSENS, Fraunhofer IIS has developed a miniaturized system for athome sleep monitoring. SomnoSENS is a functional prototype of a “portable sleep laboratory” that the patient can use independently at home. It records six vital signs, can temporarily store the measurements and transmits them wirelessly to a base station (e.g. a laptop or PC) inside the house for data analysis.
Hardware Modules
The sensor modules can be adopted to customer specific requirements (sampling rate, data format, communication protocol, interface) and provide small size and low power design. All modules are available with wireless interfaces and thus are suitable for mobile applications.
ZigBee Sensor Network
The ZigBee multi parameter sensor network transmits a patient’s various vital parameters wirelessly to a receiver. The miniaturized sensors are easy to wear for the patient and provide considerably more freedom of movement when compared with conventional measuring devices and connections.
Standards
Communication among medical devices and applications including legacy components is a main requirement of health telematics. This communication should support both technical interoperability (by common data transmission standards) and semantic interoperability (by common coding schemes etc.).