GCRC Informatics Project Sponsor: Dr. Paul Harris, GCRC Informatics Director Members: Chris Heath, BME/EE Adam Nagel, CompE Chris Nash, EE Brendan Soar,

GCRC Informatics Project

Sponsor:

Dr. Paul Harris, GCRC Informatics Director

Members:

Chris Heath, BME/EE

Adam Nagel, CompE

Chris Nash, EE

Brendan Soar, CompE

December 7, 2004Final Fall Presentation

Presentation Content

• Introduction / Overview

• Problem Statement, Requirements

• Operational Concept

• Equipment Information

• Solution Overview

• Detail of Chosen Solution

• Progress Summary

What is the GCRC?

• General Clinical Research Center

• GCRC monitors patients taking experimental medicines and suffering from rare medical conditions

• Patients’ vital signs are recorded frequently

• Sponsor D. Paul Harris is Informatics Director, operating and maintaining all servers and data collection systems

Problem statement

• Nurses periodically take BP, ECG, heart rate, temperature readings– Currently printed on paper– Nurses must visit at strict intervals,

sometimes every 5 minutes– Any discrepancy can introduce

large error– Manual data entry into server

• An automatic device would improve reliability of data-gathering process– Strict, regular intervals– Data is recorded and stored

automatically, with less risk of loss or error

Solution Requirements• Must trigger & retrieve

measurements from monitors– At least every 60 seconds– 200Hz ECG data

• Must upload data to MySQL server via 802.11b

• Must be simple to use– Operated by untrained nurses– Must allow setting of measurement

interval– Allow for taking a measurement at

any time• Must be easily modified to

accommodate new devices• Must be highly reliable

– Loss of any data is unacceptable

Solution RequirementsPhysical/Electrical Characteristics

• Must be easily carried in one hand• Must be possible to mount on

device stand• Should not rely solely on batteries• Must cost ~$400-$500 or less per

device• Environmental Issues:

– Must be electrically isolated from device

– Cannot interfere with existing electronic devices

– Cannot fail due to power loss

Measuring equipment and interfaces

• Vital signs monitors – DINAMAP Pro 1000 and MPS

Select– RS-232 (serial)– Opto-Isolated Adapter

• GCRC network– 802.11b wireless LAN w/ SSID

• Data server– MySQL server– Web-based front end for

researchers

Dinamap Vital Signs Monitor Overview

Model Image Optoelectrical Isolation

Quantity Comments

Pro 1000 Provided through ILC-1927 adaptor

7 units Newest models; high priority

MPS Select Portable

9-pin RS232 port is isolated as standard feature

4 units Modern models; high priority

1846x Not isolated by default, no adaptor identified yet

5 units Obsolete models; low priority; similar solution already in place

• 8 limited-functionality monitors (4 Compact T, 2 Pro 200, 2 Pro XL)

– Compatibility with these devices is not a priority

• Solution must be easily upgradeable to support new machines

Operational Concept

1. User “checks out” device from charging/storage area2. User places device on monitor stand and plugs in

device power cable3. Measurement parameters (frequency of measurement,

patient ID#, model of monitor) are set up using GUI, on location

4. Automated operation is initiated through GUI5. GUI displays status information, allows taking of

spontaneous measurements. User is also allowed to enter comments at any time.

6. At end of operation, device allows user to initiate uploading of acquired data

7. Device is returned to charging/storage area

User Interface

Device

Server

Dinamap

MonitorSerial commands

Data

User Commands

Device Status

Data

General Solution Layout

Local Storage

Data

Note: Primary Dinamap monitors include optoelectrical isolation at RS-232 port

There are two primary approaches

FPGA-based Handheld-based

FPGA based design solution

• Essentially a programmable digital logic gate

• Performs task according to a state variable model

• Can be connected to memory modules and external devices

• Must be remapped after changes to the program

NIOS II Standard Config

FPGA Solution

User Interface

LCD Driver

FPGA Core

Serial Interface

Dinamap Monitor

On-chip Memory

Server

Data

Device Status

User Commands Data

Serial Commands

General Purpose I/O

FPGA Solution, cont.

• Keyboard

• Push Buttons

• Number Pad

• PC Docking Station

• 802.11b Wireless Connection

• Docking Station

FPGA Advantages/Disadvantages

• Advantages– Low cost– High flexibility / modularity

• Disadvantages– Programming a UI within requirements would

be difficult– Packaging/component integration required– No native wireless access methods

Pre-packaged handheld solution

• Use Palm or Pocket PC handheld

• Communicate via serial port or Bluetooth

• Devices have wireless capability

• User Interface is clear and easy to use

• Device already packagedwww.hpshopping.com

PDA SolutionGraffiti,

Touch screen

PDA

SQL Server

Dinamap

MonitorSerial commands

Data

User Commands

Device Status

Data

PDA Solution, cont.

PDA OS Bluetooth Bluetooth to Serial

Dinamap

802.11b

To GCRC network

To User Interface

Local Storage

PDA device

Blue Tooth Transfer Protocol

• Data Link Layer: Logical Link Control and Adaptation Layer Protocol (L2CAP)

• Either synchronous (connection-oriented) or asynchronous (connectionless-oriented)

• RFCOMM runs on top of L2CAP to emulate serial ports (based off of TS 07.10 standard)

• http://www.palowireless.com/infotooth/tutorial/rfcomm.asp

Develop Palm or Pocket PC application

• Use Palm OS or Pocket PC APIs to develop our own programs– Compact .NET – J2ME – NI LabView development environments

• Examples of other people using handheld devices to control electrical devices serially.– Bill Osmer – Detroit Palm User’s Group– Dr. Sean Brophy – Vanderbilt Engineering

Compact .NET and J2ME frameworks

• Allow development of semi-platform independent applications

• Include APIs & components – 802.11b– MySQL– GUI– Data storage

• Compact .NET– Supported only on PocketPC– No native Bluetooth support– $100

• J2ME– Supported on Pocket PC and Palm– Support for all interfaces within framework– free

NI Labview PDA Module

www.ni.com

• Develop applications for PDAs using Labview

• Works with Palm or Pocket PC

• Development environment is easy to use

• Creates quality user interfaces

• Designed for monitoring of medical devices

Potential SolutionsHardware Platform

Software Environment

Advantages Disadvantages Cost

FPGA C++

Low cost; High flexibility No simple 802.11x solution; Difficult and cumbersome to program; Creating a good UI would be very difficult

Inexpensive; Depends upon school contacts

Handheld

NI LabviewEasy to program; APIs for all interfaces; Simple GUI development

PDA $300

BT/Serial adaptor $60

Compact .NET

APIs for most interfaces; Components for GUI development

No native BT support; Supported only on PocketPC

PDA $300

BT/Serial adaptor $60

Compact .NET software $100

J2ME

APIs for all interfaces; Components for GUI development; Supported on Palm and PocketPC

PDA $300

BT/Serial adaptor $60

Preferred Design Approach

• Labview PDA software obtained from VUSE for free

• Either Palm OS or Pocket PC

• Provides support for Bluetooth, 802.11b, serial connections

• Retain Palm OS/J2ME solution as backup development option

Development Progress

• Installed Labview 7.1 and PDA module software

• Ordering AirCable™ Serial-Bluetooth converter

• Researching appropriate PDA purchase

• Educating ourselves in Labview

• Questions?

• Comments?

• Donations?