Project Description:
The intensive care unit (ICU) has various critical devices, such as endotracheal tubes (ETTs) and intravenous (IV) lines, that support patient recovery. Yet, patients can unintentionally or purposefully detach these devices. This phenomenon, known as self-extubation, can lead to further medical issues and re-intubation procedures, extending the patient’s stay in the ICU and adding up to $25,000 in costs. Current prevention strategies rely on either physical restraints, heavy sedation, and/or mechanical securement devices. However, these strategies are also associated with serious patient complications, including delirium, PTSD, and patient discomfort. Therefore, there is a clear unmet clinical need for a safe, effective solution that prevents self-extubation while preserving patient comfort, dignity, and mobility. Our solution is a custom glove that houses an inflatable bladder, connected to a solenoid-valve-based inflation and deflation system. Coupled with a two-camera system developed by a past Capstone team that tracks patient hand position relative to key devices, our device activates and triggers inflation when a patient’s hand approaches a critical device, impeding the patient’s IP joints and preventing hand closure. When the patient’s hand is not detected near key devices, the glove deflates to allow the patient to regain full mobility. Our device provides full patient autonomy when inactive and prevents patients from grasping these key devices with instantaneous (<10 ms) activation. Patients will benefit from increased motility in the ICU, thereby improving patient outcomes and reducing discomfort. Our device also gives healthcare providers more time to intervene, removing stress and decreasing the overall cost of complications for hospital systems.
