| KEYWORD |
Area Engineering
Development of a multi-force -sensor patch-based acquisition device for PWV measurement
keywords CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES, FORCE SENSORS, PHYSIOLOGICAL SIGNALS, PWV
Reference persons DANILO DEMARCHI
External reference persons Irene Buraioli (irene.buraioli@polito.it)
Research Groups MiNES (Micro&Nano Electronic Systems)
Thesis type EXPERIMENTAL
Description Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in the world, accounting for about 17.9 million deaths per year, corresponding to 32 percent of total annual deaths. Early diagnosis and treatment of CVD can dramatically reduce the chance of premature mortality and ensure an everyday life. Cardiovascular risk has been widely correlated in the literature with Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV), an index with high predictive content. PWV represents the speed of pressure wave propagation within arteries and is usually assessed between the carotid and femoral sites. It is calculated as the ratio of the distance between the two sites to the time elapsed to travel that length. Nowadays, PWV estimation is performed with instruments based mainly on applanation tonometry, but the high cost has severely limited their use in clinical settings.
This thesis aims to design a device for PWV measurement based on force sensor arrays. The innovation of the proposed solution is related to the ability to disregard correct sensor placement, removing the need for highly trained and specialized personnel. The project involves interfacing with the medical team responsible for monitoring the subjects participating in the study.
The proposed thesis work will be structured as follows:
1) The candidate will be required to perform a state-of-the-art analysis of commercial sensors used for PWV measurement, identifying the optimal sensor for the project.
2) Next, the candidate must implement an AFE (Analog Front End) to acquire signals from the different force sensors that are part of the patch. In addition, it will be his task to implement the algorithms for processing the signals.
3) Finally, the candidate will have to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed solution by comparing it with devices currently considered the gold standard for the specific application.
This process will allow the candidate to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed innovative solution in PWV measurement, opening the door to the development of new devices.
Required skills Signal processing, programming in Matlab/Python, programming in C
Deadline 14/12/2024
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