28-03-2023 11:38
MedTechLab EOOD ambition was to develop a new Welfare Technology (WT) solution that would bring a substantial value to both the dementia patients and their relatives and caretakers. This project aimed to increase the company's competitiveness, being a small company from North-East Bulgaria.
Easier and more reliable care for people with dementia
Looking after a relative with dementia is a serious challenge. Dementia patients can go out at any time of the day, hot or cold weather, with or without proper clothes. Sometimes it is lifesaving to just physically locate the person. There are other numerous considerations that have to be made and still might not be enough to always keep them safe. The focus is on monitoring their condition and controlling the factors that can slow down the deterioration processes.
MedTechLab EOOD is specialised in outsourced services in the IT and engineering sectors and is focused on developing and bringing to the market solutions to elderly people. Since 2019 it has started to develop its own product – a smart monitoring device for dementia patients and a solution for real-time location of the same patients. MedTechLab EOOD had to develop a technological smart device, addressing the following challenges: 1). Locating a lost dementia patient with real-time location; 2). Actively monitoring their condition; 3). Sudden fall detection.
Use of artificial intelligence
The smart device operates by collecting data that is needed and then sending it via the mobile network to the company's servers for immediate analysis. The data is processed by a new technology and artificial intelligence algorithms to track the changes in the behaviour of the patient. The results are then visualised onto web and mobile applications and all users with granted access can see them. The settings allow push notifications when something requires attention. The time interval between each transmission could also be set - from live streaming to every 2 hours. Part of the factors that can be controlled, in order to slow the dementia are the physical activity and good night sleep. It is very important that dementia patients live an active life, and the system can help monitor this status.
The grant amount of the project is EUR 99,000. The project will result in a developed new technological solution for monitoring and 2 new products - a smart wearable device and a smart home unit. In addition, 3 new jobs will be created.