IP Requirement: Emory IP

Experience Requirement:

– Rapid prototyping

– Sensor design

– Mechanical design

Problem Description: I/O drain measurement

Accurate intake and output (I/O) measurement is essential for clinical decision-making in perioperative, critical care, and general ward settings. Manual monitoring of fluid output from lines and drains—including urinary catheters, surgical drains (e.g., Jackson-Pratt, Hemovac), and chest tubes—remains the standard practice but is subject to significant limitations. These include human error, delayed or infrequent documentation, and variability in measurement technique, all of which can compromise patient safety and delay recognition of complications such as acute kidney injury, postoperative bleeding, or infection. Staff workload and time constraints further exacerbate these issues, with studies showing that manual urine output documentation is often delayed and overestimated, and that staff perceive I/O measurement as inaccurate nearly half the time. There is a clear need for an automated, real-time monitoring system that can continuously and accurately track fluid output from drains and lines, integrate with electronic health records, and provide timely alerts for abnormal trends.

Project Proposal: Automated drain monitoring system for improved I/O measurement

Recent advances in wearable sensor technology have enabled unobtrusive, continuous, remote fluid monitoring in clinical and ambulatory settings, thus improving evidence-based medical decision-making and influencing care trajectory. The proposed solution could utilize a ring-like or clamp-on device—analogous to the Aura Ring or other wearable monitors—that attaches directly to the tubing of drains or catheters. Ideally these monitors would be low-costs, affordable, and perhaps reusable. Using flow dynamics and monitoring, we hope to find a way to detect fluid volume and flow in real time, thus creating potential for longitudinal fluid monitoring in end-stage kidney disease, congestive heart failure, etc. The device could continuously measure fluid output, store historical data, and wirelessly transmit information to a central dashboard or EHR system, enabling remote monitoring and automated alerts for critical changes in output (oliguria, excessive bleeding, drain blockage, etc.). Integration of colorimetry and multiparametric sensing could further enhance clinical decision support. The system should ideally be designed for compatibility with standard medical tubing, require minimal manual intervention, and support interoperability with hospital IT infrastructure.

Potential features include:

· Wearable or tube-attached sensor modules (bioimpedance, capacitance, or optical) for real-time fluid volume and flow measurement.

· Wireless data transmission (Bluetooth) for integration with EHRs and remote monitoring dashboards.

· Automated alerts and graphical output trends to facilitate early detection of complications and reduce staff workload.

· Multiparametric sensing (colorimetry, hemodynamic parameters) for enhanced CDS.

· User-friendly interfaces for bedside and remote monitoring, with minimal workflow disruption.