A collection of illnesses known as Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS) can result in a variety of symptoms in the arm, hand, and/or fingers, including discomfort, tingling, weakness, and exhaustion. Our goal is to design and build an embedded system that could help patients suffering from TOS.
Project description
The Catharina Hospital in the Netherlands is the only institution with a center of excellence for the diagnosis and treatment of TOS. The EAST (Elevated Arm Stress Test) is one of the several procedures used to determine the diagnosis of TOS. Regardless of all the innovations and the professionalism of the Catharina Hospital, it is still difficult to correctly diagnose patients with TOS. As a result, the Catharina Hospital created a standardized EAST-meter along with students from Fontys Hogeschool. Although a working prototype has been created, the mechanical and electrical components remain in need of improvement. Realizing these improvements is the goal of our Minor BeCreative project.
Project results
In conclusion, our project, centered on a Raspberry Pi and featuring a Python-based software interface complemented by sensors from Go Direct, adeptly establishes connections, collects real-time data, and presents it through a graphical user interface (GUI). However, despite its operational functionality, it currently falls short of meeting the elevated standards expected for medical-grade embedded systems.
The project’s success lies in its ability to provide valuable data, particularly in stress tests such as the Elevated Arm Stress Test (EAST). Nonetheless, the identified limitations, notably the dependency on a USB connection for the screen interface, underscore the need for advancements to align our system with stringent medical standards.
Project video
Acknowledgment
The Fontys Minor BeCeative project team, consisting of four Engineering students, would like to thank Catharina Hospital Eindhoven, Fontys Engineering, and Fontys Paramedical for their outstanding cooperation and team work within this project.