Sensor based mesh network for body fall detection

Dr. Kenneth Hsu, Sam Skalicky, Aniket Mhatre, Sajin George, Daniel CheungRIT Computer Engineering

Abstract

• Medical Application : Fall detection can be monitored through the watch if it worn by the patients and a medical supervisor. Also, other vital sign data can be sent through wireless this wireless sensor network.

• Nursing homes: monitoring the elderly and handicapped to assist them without intruding into their personal lives.

• Fire fighting departments: The fire fighters can be assisted if the signal is conveyed through the watch on the wireless mesh networks.

The proposed framework using Ti EZ430 Chronos development kits were acquired from Texas Instruments. The eZ430-Chronos from Texas Instruments wirelessly transmits accelerometer data for motion sensitive control and provides a personal display for notifications. Using these we can construct a mesh network of patient monitoring devices with monitoring devices for medical personnel. This network will notify the medical personnel when a patient has fallen with no background network hardware required. It allows for a quick and cheap implementation in existing environments. In addition, this network is mobile, so for events off campus can easily be held without any setup or modifications to the network.

Application

Methodology

A sensor mesh network is built using Texas Instruments eZ430 Chronos development Tool. eZ430 consists of a CC430F6137 processor, LCD display , integrated pressure sensor, 3-axis accelerometer for motion sensitive control and a RF tranreceiver. The kit is runs an algorithm which detects a human fall. The algorithm runs an actual human fall and not a drop. The 3-axis accelerometer data is used to detect the fall. On detection of the fall the watch transmits an alert signal to all the adjacent watches. All the watches in the range receive the signal. The watches worn by the medical attendants would notify on reception alerting them of the emergency and give them detailed information on the patient that is in need. If the medical attendant is not in the range of the watch it would relay the signal through any other patient watches in between. The medical personnel can then attend the patient.