Introduction

1. Abstract The project deals with the development and implementation of a chest-drain monitoring system to be used in intensive care units. The realized “Electronic chest-drain monitoring system” enables measuring, monitoring and collecting data of blood drainage from patients. The system is fitted with a screen for displaying drainage data by the patient’s bed side. Additionally, the same data is transmitted wirelessly to a central computer for data storage and manipulation. The computer enables simultaneous monitoring of multiple patients located in the intensive care unit. • Introduction • Following operations on the heart/lungs or other viscera inside the thoracic cavity, there is always an amount of blood and/or air which keeps on collecting inside the chest and it needs to be let out of the body. • This objective is achieved by leaving plastic tubes (drains) inside the chest cavity for a period of time after the operation. • These tubes drain the effluents into reservoir bottles, placed next to the patient’s bed side. • The realized “Electronic chest-drain monitoring system” is intended to remove the difficulties of measuring, monitoring and collecting data of blood amount that comes out of the patient body. Data Analysis and Display on Remote Computer Electronic chest-drain monitoring system for cardio-thoracic surgery MahdiRafiee, Mohammad Bagher Shadmand, Mohammed Faleh Al-KaisiSupervisor: Prof. Mohieddine BenammarDepartment of Electrical Engineering, College of EngineeringSpring 2010 Proposed Monitoring System Sampled results on GLCD Description of the System • Given that the blood density is known, the rate of fluid leakage is measured by measuring the change in weight of the drainage bottle. • An S-shaped load cell and simple electronic circuitry are used for converting the weight into a proportional voltage • The leakage data is processed by a PIC 887 microcontroller and is displayed by the bed side using a touch screen GLCD • The same leakage data is sent wirelessly to a computer through an XBee transceiver • The computer enables simultaneous collection of data from many patients, and is intended to be used by the head nurse located at the centre of the intensive care unit • The computer is fitted with LabVIEW which is used for processing, displaying, and archiving the leakage data. • A demonstration setup has been developed that includes all of the above hardware and software. Complete standalone system displaying results Conclusion • A prototype electronic chest-drain monitoring system was developed in collaboration with Hamad Medical Corporation • Fluid leakage rate is successfully measured • Air leakage and communication with surgeon's PDA will be developed in future work ACKNOWLEDGMENT This work is supported by UREP Grant # 06 - 053 - 2 - 008