The Berkley Tricorder is a highly integrated piece of wireless technology capable of monitoring a wide range of physiological parameters with very high precision in a compact form factor. It represents a platform that can be used for a wide range of applications such as:
- Ambulatory monitoring for diagnosing health issues
- Low cost medical telemedicine device for use in developing countries (used in conjunction with dial-up-networking available on most cell phones via Bluetooth)
- Long term continuous monitoring of the elderly or people with chronic conditions for early detection of serious events
- Wireless real-time telemetry for sports training feedback
- Triage applications
Demo
This version of the health monitor was built in 2008, and has been vetted in a number of ambulatory studies. Check out some of the links to the left for more information.
Sensing Modalities
All samples are acquired at 256 samples/second at 12-bits unless otherwise specified.
- ECG – Single-channel ECG raw waveform
- EMG – Muscle tesnion/activity
- GSR (Galvanic Skin Response) – Changes in the electrical properties of the skin in response to stress or anxiety
- Pulse Oximeter (Photoplethysmography) – Measures volumetric changes due to pulsatile blood flow; Measures pulse rate, blood oxygen saturation [15 bits effective]
- Skin Temperature
- 3-Axis Accelerometer – Movement, Activity, Orientation; Fall-detection in the elderly [8 bits/axis]
- bioImpedance – Breathing (respiration rate and volume), cough detection; level of hydration & water compartmentatlization [12 bits real / 12 bits imaginary]
- PTT (Pulse Transit Time) – Derived from measuring the time difference between the R-wave in the ECG signal to the arrival of the pulse at the Pulse Oximeter site — corresponds with Blood Pressure
Other features
- microSD interface with FAT16 filesystem support (via a bugfixed version of dosfs)
- Bluetooth interface (wireless telemetry, data transmission, audio transmission, dial-up-networkng)
Version 8
Currently being assembled.
- Lower power consumption
- Improved noise isolation in Pulse Oximeter signal
- Simpler BioImpedance output stage
- Onboard GSM cell modem
Related articles
- Telemedicine Technologies: Information Technologies in Medicine and Telehealth By Bernard Fong, A.C.M. Fong, C.K. Li (biomedikal.in)
