SALVA

Autonomous vital signs detection and alarm system for health emergency scenarios, capable of reducing the health institution’s reaction time.

My solution is a system that generates alerts to provide a response and therefore, timely attention to a critical emergency, medical situation detected in the user by the constant monitoring of the vital signs. The method and system of the invention employ data obtained from vital sign sensors attached to the user, in a noninvasive way, as well as specific normality limits of the vital signs to determine if the user is experiencing a critical emergency medical situation as a Hypertensive crisis, a Syncope or others. If necessary, it will send an alert notification, including location, user status and first aid instructions, to the cell phones of the receiving users and the nearest medical center, with other specific information directed only to the medical experts.

SALVA uses a series of sensors to track ‌vital signs including blood pressure, respiratory rate, heart rate, body temperature and blood oxygenation. Using ‌vital signs data, the algorithm inside the app can identify a series of increasing health abnormalities and situations. The app subsequently uses the user information, SMS technology, Email and Voice-mail to ensure a rapid response of the nearest person and the medical personnel. (Patent pending)

My product attempts to provide solutions to global-scale problems such as the following: 4 out of every 10 adults in the world who have been diagnosed with hypertension and 50% of those diagnosed are between 40-60 years of age; in Colombia, the average age-adjusted mortality rate due to this disease stood at 12.1 per 100.000 inhabitants in the period 2005-2010 (Ministerio De Salud y Proteccion Social, 2019). On the other hand, in countries such as Argentina, 18% of the population suffers from syncope (sudden loss of consciousness accompanied by loss of body posture). 80% of the people affected are adults over 65 years of age. Although it is not a fatal disease, it is associated with trauma and fractures in older adults. (Infobae, 2017). 

In all these cases, time is a crucial variable that could determine if a person lives or dies. I’m trying to reduce that time as much as possible thereafter, reducing the probability of death in these scenarios and many more.

The impact population of my solution consists of people in the range between 50 and 80 but could be used by people of all ages that need monitoring -such as babies- that would help ‌ relatives feel safer in case of emergency. Or anyone who suffers from cardiovascular diseases or other conditions. Also, it could help doctors identify other types of related diseases by having access to historical data on a patient in real time.

I personally have conducted a study consisting of a series of interviews in elderly homes with over 100 houses here in my country. I have also talked and studied with doctors that provided me with helpful information about their concerns regarding the management of time and volume of people in health emergency cases. This provides promising results for my invention.

I currently have accomplished an algorithm and sensors prototype. The documents regarding the invention, which is currently in a patent-pending stage. Also, I have developed the app models and the app code that is currently being tested.

The technology implemented divides it into three parts:

1. The first part consists of ‌ constant monitoring of the vital signs by a series of sensors divided into two groups: one capable of measuring the heart rate, respiratory rate, and body temperature. The second group is responsible for measuring ‌blood pressure and blood oxygenation using infrared light and sensors. This data is delivered in real time using Bluetooth technology to the mobile app.

2. Once the data is received the app’s algorithm interprets the raw data. Consequently, patient information is compared in real time with the personalized limits of the patient and then classified. This algorithm is thought in a way that could be boosted by AI technology implemented using Autonomous Learning.

3. After the situation is successfully identified. A Push notification, SMS, Email and voice mail containing all the necessary information including gps (Global Positioning System) coordinates, first aid instructions and other information to all the contacts permitted by the user. Simultaneously, the same information, health history data and specific health synthons identified are sent to a private server and online platform, hopefully adopted by health institutions capable of showing incoming critical health situations to reduce the institution’s reaction time.

I haven’t launched yet 

I estimate, if I am capable of obtaining the necessary funds and mentorship, about 100 people for a pilot exploration. When the product launches, I estimate it could serve about 100.000 people in its first year. (This is considering that “About 18.2 million adults age 20 and older have CAD.Coronary heart disease is the most common type of heart disease, killing 360.900 people in 2019” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021) This only in the United States)

My impact goals for the next year are the following:

• That my product will be capable of helping people with Cardiovascular diseases and Syncope, such as me and my family, who fear for themselves or loved-ones, gain peace of mind when they are apart, alone, in a car etc. My goal is to reduce that fear of fainting alone, having a hypertensive crisis and not being capable of reaching for help. I want for all those people to know that in a crisis, even though they can’t reach for help, there is help in the way.

• The other goal is to alleviate the load for health institutions and at the same time increase the reach of people they can attend. This is helpful in countries with high mortality rates such as mine.

• Build a tool that can help in the identification of diseases by doctors around the world. Note that my technology could also be proven helpful identifying Covid.

• CDC’s cardiovascular death rate per capita
• Cardiovascular death rate per capita of Colombia by Ministerio de Salud
• Average reaction time indicator in each hospital with access to my technology.

I currently need financial support that could enable me to hire a team and obtain the necessary equipment and resources to continue with the production of this product.

I created this project based on a problem that my family and myself deal with daily. This solution started 4 years ago when my mom started having her worst period of hypertensive crisis; sometime later I started having syncope events due to a secondary effect of my open-heart surgery. Looking for a way to help my mom while I was away studying, I had the idea for a solution, that I started developing and researching for the next 4 years. I started learning about programming and business at the same time. Identifying my idea as something with ‌huge potential, I filed a patent for the invention with the help of a government program for low resource inventors that gives help to only a handful of inventions a year (surprisingly, I ended up winning a vacancy). I invested most of my time researching and developing an accurate algorithm that helps others as myself and my family. I have knowledge in programming and electronics, skills that I have developed in these 4 years by myself and with my career in Electro Mechanical engineering automation and robotics.

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