Advanced Multimodal Wireless Vital Signs Monitoring for Patients With Asthma and Anaphylaxis

In clinical and home settings sensors to monitor vital parameters (including heart rate, ECG, respiratory rate, temperature, and pulse oximetry) require the application and removal of multiple, often bulky apparatuses. Furthermore, each requires constant, wired attachment to a power supply and operators, which can limit visibility and impair the ability to move a patient without interference. Serial measurements require significant time, as several devices with separate leads are applied and removed to obtain measurements. Due to the varying and often large measurement heads of different devices, readings may not be obtained at exactly the same skin location, which impairs comparability of serial measurements. Additionally, the process of measurement can disturb the skin area being measured.

Asthma and anaphylaxis are common entities in children. During exacerbations, frequent monitoring of the vital parameters described is necessary to guide medical decision-making. Asthma exacerbations are associated with mild to severe symptoms that include cough, wheeze, tachypnea, retractions, labored breathing and respiratory fatigue. Food allergy reactions are potentially severe with life-threatening symptoms of anaphylactic shock that include, choking, respiratory distress and loss of consciousness. In the most severe cases reactions can be fatal or require emergency and intensive care treatment in the hospital. Convenient, easy to use, vital signs monitors are especially important in pediatric populations as children have less ability to self-monitor or describe their physical symptoms of life-threatening anaphylaxis or asthma exacerbation.

The wearable sensors offer a new, non-invasive and easy to use way to monitor vital signs of patients with asthma and anaphylaxis. Our previous experience testing our wearable vital sign sensors in multiple pediatric and neonatal studies since 2016, have shown a strong correlation to existing standard of care monitor data outputs. Additionally, the sensors have received positive feedback from patients and physicians, on their comfort, ease of use, and application.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients ages 1 to 17 years old
• Patients scheduled to do an oral food challenge or managed in the ED or admitted to the hospital for asthma exacerbation.
• For exploratory analyses of breath sounds, patients in the ED with signs and symptoms of lower respiratory tract infection (e.g., bronchiolitis, pneumonitis, pneumonia).

Exclusion criteria

• Patient's with fragile skin or skin conditions that would prevent them from having a sensor placed (including wounds, blistering, cracked or peeling skin, burns or skin that is bandaged/covered)