Development of an implantable oximeter for patients suffering from chronic respiratory insufficiency: design and validation of a prototype

Oxygen therapy is one of the most used treatments during hospitalization, especially in patients with cardiac or respiratory diseases. The latest recommendations emphasize the need to titrate oxygen as precisely as for any other drugs to avoid underdosage (hypoxemia) as overdoses (hyperoxia). Two million patients in the US receive oxygen therapy in the long term, and this number is rapidly increasing with the growing number of individuals with chronic cardiac and pulmonary diseases and with the aging of the population. The utilization of a pulse oximeters is very limiting for patients receiving long-term oxygen, because conventional oximeters are uncomfortable, they can fall off or lose the signal frequently, and they are very sensitive to movement artefacts. This project aims to combine complementary expertise in electrical engineering, artificial intelligence and respiratory medicine of three leading research institutions to develop an implantable oximeter measuring the rate of saturated oxygen (SpO2) continuously to be used in patients in whom long-term oxygen therapy has been recommended by their treating physician. An implantable oximeter will provide continuous, reliable and stable SpO2 signal to facilitate monitoring of health status in patients.

Faculty Supervisor:

Benoit Gosselin

Student:

Partner:

OxyNov

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

Université Laval

Program: