Sensor Development/Adaptation to Improve Healthcare: A Partnership Between the University of Maine System and Saint Joseph's Hospital
PI: John Vetelino (Electrical and Computer Engineering, UMaine)
Sector: Biotechnology
Partners: Saint Joseph’s Hospital, James Moreira (UMM), Steven Quackenbush (UMF)
Abstract: The goal of this proposal is to develop a partnership between University of Maine System researchers and Saint Joseph’s Hospital to develop/adapt and commercialize sensors to detect/monitor diseases and/or medical conditions to improve public healthcare. A pilot project focused on motion sensors for an aging population was chosen to initiate the UMS-SJH partnership. Personnel in this project include SJH physicians, associates, and caregivers, UMS researchers in sensors and aging, an entrepreneurship professor in business, and selected undergraduate and graduate students. Prototype motion sensors will be designed and fabricated at UM and evaluated at SJH. Since sensor “friendliness” is critical to the project’s success, SJH will obtain input from aging urban population groups while UMF and UMM will obtain input from aging rural population groups. It is anticipated that commercial products will result with economic benefits to UMS and the greater Bangor area. In that regard, Fil-Tech, LLC has shown an interest in licensing the sensor technology associated with motion sensors for an aging population.