The Berkeley Tricorder

The Berkley Tricorder is a highly integrated piece of wireless technology capable of monitoring a wide range of physiological parameters with very high precision in a compact form factor.  It represents a platform that can be used for a wide range of applications such as:

• Ambulatory monitoring for diagnosing health issues
• Low cost medical telemedicine device for use in developing countries (used in conjunction with dial-up-networking available on most cell phones via Bluetooth)
• Long term continuous monitoring of the elderly or people with chronic conditions for early detection of serious events
• Wireless real-time telemetry for sports training feedback
• Triage applications

Demo 

 

Click on video for larger view

 

This version of the health monitor was built in 2008, and has been vetted in a number of ambulatory studies. Check out some of the links to the left for more information.

Sensing Modalities

All samples are acquired at 256 samples/second at 12-bits unless otherwise specified.  

• ECG - Single-channel ECG raw waveform
• EMG - Muscle tesnion/activity
• GSR (Galvanic Skin Response) - Changes in the electrical properties of the skin in response to stress or anxiety
• Pulse Oximeter (Photoplethysmography)  - Measures volumetric changes due to pulsatile blood flow; Measures pulse rate, blood oxygen saturation [15 bits effective]
• Skin Temperature
  
• 3-Axis Accelerometer - Movement, Activity, Orientation; Fall-detection in the elderly [8 bits/axis]
• bioImpedance - Breathing (respiration rate and volume), cough detection; level of hydration & water compartmentatlization [12 bits real / 12 bits imaginary]
• PTT (Pulse Transit Time) - Derived from measuring the time difference between the R-wave in the ECG signal to the arrival of the pulse at the Pulse Oximeter site -- corresponds with Blood Pressure

Other features

• microSD interface with FAT16 filesystem support (via a bugfixed version of dosfs)

• Bluetooth interface (wireless telemetry, data transmission, audio transmission, dial-up-networkng)

Version 8

Currently being assembled.

• Lower power consumption  
• Improved noise isolation in Pulse Oximeter signal
• Simpler BioImpedance output stage
  
• Onboard GSM cell modem