Current projects
Clinical application of electrical impedance tomography
Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) belongs to non-invasive imaging techniques for imaging internal structures of the object to be examined. EIT is able to recognize structures with different electrical properties. The method is based on applying alternating electric currents to the surface of the object to be examined and analyzing the passage of these currents through the object. EIT has both advantages and disadvantages. The advantage of an electrical impedance tomograph is its low cost and a small size when compared e.g. to magnetic resonance (MR) or computed tomography (CT). Moreover, when compared to CT, the method uses no ionizing radiation. On the other hand, one of its biggest disadvantages is lower spatial resolution. The main aim of the project is the improvement of the resolution and a clinical application of the method.
Detection and evaluation of symptoms and signs of the Huntington’s disease
This project aims to develop an automatic computer system for detection and evaluation of symptoms and signs of the Huntington’s disease (HD). We focus especially on sleep and behaviour changes. The observations are performed at minipigs. They represent a biomedical model of HD. Base of this system is the telemetric system for biosignals acquisition and video recording and we develop it for the Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics (IAPG).
Mathematical modeling of cardiovascular system
This project is focused on the computer modeling of heart function that is based on mathematical foundation. The modeling is specified in congenital heart defect (Tetralogy of Fallot) in child and chronic heart failure in adult. These diseases are accompanied by the ventricular electro-mechanical dyssynchrony that causes decreasing of the heart efficiency.
Determination of the energy heart efficiency is inaccurate by the clinical way. Therefore, the application of bio-physical equations is advantageous. The aim of this project is to develop the software apparatus for the energy optimization of the heart treatment using the CRT (Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy).
Primary screening of atherosclerosis
The project deals with the design of signal processing methods for measuring of blood pressure and hemodynamic parameters using a dual-cuff (or multi-cuff) tonometer and also with primary screening of atherosclerosis based on hemodynamic parameters and the shape of the pulse wave. It has been designed and developed the experimental workplace during the solving of project. New data from patients have been collecting using this workplace. The have been stored, cataloged, processed and interpreted in physical and medical way. Modeling of hemodynamic parameters and study of correlation between modeled and real data are also a part of the project.
Recent projects
Mechanical model of cardiovascular system
The project aims with the design and realization of the mechanical model of the human cardiovascular system. The main idea is to support the education in the Biomedical Engineering by the new laboratory equipment. The experimental design allows the measurement and investigation of the blood pressure and the cardiac output. The project includes both the hardware design and realization and the software design and implementation (the firmware for device controller).
Intelligent primer nurse
The project aims with the design and realization of the device for monitoring of the heart rate and user’s activity. The device is something like personal wirelless bed side monitor with remote display. Connection to the computer unit is provided by a Bluetooth module. The main aim has been to design a prototype of multi-purpose device suitable for use in senior homes, spas or for lonely seniors. In this device, a special algorithm is implemented for activating alarm in the life threatening situation like low or high heart rates or inactivity of user, where a danger of losing consciousness exists. In the future, there will be a possibility to use several “Primer Nurses” for user’s multi-monitoring using one central computer.
Telemonitoring of vital signs
The project aims with the design and realization of the telemedical system for distant monitoring of the selected vital signs like the heart rate, blood oxygenation, breathing frequency etc. The signs are sensed using own hardware; the acquired signals are preprocessed and transfered by wireless line using Bluetooth, WiFi or GSM technologies. The project includes both hardware design and realization, and software design and implementation.