Challenge

Many patients suffer from severe mental problems during or after their treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). This slows down the recovery process and has long term effects on the patient’s quality of life. Despite its importance, mental health is not addressed sufficiently in the ICU.

To tackle this problem the nurses need to be empowered to precisely assess the patient’s mental condition while enabling both the patient and the health care professionals to communicate seamlessly despite the patient’s physical abilities.

Solution

Sova allows the healthcare personnel to get a better understanding of the patient’s pain levels, activity, sleep and emotion and the product system enables the patient to communicate and express their needs via an interface that is controlled through eye tracking.

Context & Research

Hospital Intensive Care

The mental health of patients in the Intensive Care Units (ICU) plays a vital role in the recovery time and cost for the healthcare system. Mental problems are very common and can appear at any time, becoming more likely the longer a patient stays in the ICU.
Mechanically ventilated patients and long term cases are very likely to experience mental issues. Mental conditions experienced in the ICU can reach all the way from bad dreams and continuous discomfort to delirium and post traumatic stress syndrome.
Early recognition of signs and appropriate management are key to prevent extensive cost for the healthcare system due to affects such as increased need for mechanical ventilation, increased hospitalization and increased mortality. Despite its importance, mental health is not addressed sufficiently in the ICU.

ICU stressors

The main stressors in the ICU which strongly affect the patient‘s mental condition are pain, anxiety and a lack of quality sleep and rest.
To tackle these problems the nurses need to be empowered to precisely assess and address the stressors and indicators for mental degradation.
At the same time both the patient and the healthcare professionals need to be able to communicate seamlessly despite the patient’s physical condition (Patients can not talk and move). These soft vital signs which are not yet picked up by machines are difficult to assess.

Concept Overview

Sova is a system to monitor aspects of the patient‘s mental health continuously while allowing the patients to communicate their needs. It consists of a three parts. A sensor on the patient‘s head monitors the patients sleep patterns and brain activity. A patient interface with an integrated camera monitors the patients activity and allows the patient to communicate any needs, discomfort or pain via eye tracking.

On the interface for the healthcare personnel the gathered information is visualized. With the information Sova helps the healthcare professionals to get a better understanding of the patient’s pain, activity, sleep and mental state. With Sova they can provide a more personalized, humane treatment which takes into account both the physical and mental state.

Patient Interface

Control via eyetracking

A camera integrated into the screen detects the patients movements and activity. An infrared system tracks the patients‘ eyes to allow them to interact with the display to communicate.

Screen Ergonomy

A backsite handle allows to adjust the positioning of the screen by hospital personal, relative to the patients head position. The curved screen is more ergonomic to use with the eye and gives the user a more personal feeling.

Patient Interface

Via the interface the patient can receive relevant information about their procedures, schedule as well as messages from relatives. They can also point out any needs, feelings of discomfort or pain they might have so the healthcare professionals can react accordingly.