The long-term, non-contact monitoring of infants and toddlers with respiratory illnesses is the goal of a research project in which TH Mittelhessen is collaborating with various partners. These include the lead engineering firm for medical technology (IfM) in Wettenberg, the Children's University Hospital of Eastern Bavaria in Regensburg, and the Giessen -based Transmit Center for Bioacoustics and Respiratory Physiology. Prof. Dr. Keywan Sohrabi from the Department Health is responsible for the project at THM . The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is funding the project with €1.1 million.

Respiratory illnesses are among the most common health problems in children. In addition to acute conditions, chronic illnesses play a significant role. For example, approximately ten percent of all children under 15 years of age are affected by asthma. In the majority of cases, the disease develops before the age of five. However, it is frequently overlooked or treated too late.

Medical diagnostic procedures for assessing respiratory impairment are only available for children aged five and older. Furthermore, they only provide snapshots during the medical examination and therefore offer limited insights into the overall situation in everyday life. A key reason for this is that symptoms of these conditions, such as shortness of breath, often occur at night. Sohrabi therefore sees "a significant diagnostic gap in the objective assessment of sleep-related respiratory symptoms and overall breathing patterns."

The project partners therefore aim to develop a contactless long-term monitoring system for infants and toddlers. This will involve the use of 3D cameras and microphones. The system will capture various disease-relevant symptoms, such as coughing, via body movements, body temperature, and breathing sounds. These symptoms will then be automatically recognized and evaluated using artificial intelligence.

A monitor provides parents and doctors with an overview of these events at a glance, allowing them to identify trends and take appropriate action. In addition, a mobile app provides notifications when critical situations arise. It also enables parents to collect standardized diagnostic data via an electronic questionnaire.

“The new system supports and relieves the burden on parents. Physicians receive objective long-term monitoring of disease activity, which significantly improves diagnostic options and therapy monitoring,” says IfM Managing Director Klaus Brückner. “The innovative overall concept offers the potential for a sustainable improvement in the situation of young patients and their families,” concludes Sohrabi.

The project will be completed by the end of 2021. It is financed within the framework of the BMBF programme "Small Patients, Big Needs – Medical Technology Solutions for Child-Friendly Healthcare".