RFID Fall Detection Floor Mat System

1. RFID Fall Detection Floor Mat System Andrew Heidt Brian Tippins Zach Brannan Abdirizak Mire Coleman McDaniel

2. System Overview • Detects patient falls using RFID wrist and foot tags and an antenna embedded in a floor mat • Provides monitoring capabilities in hospitals and elderly care facilities, where falls are common • Costs $3065 per unit

3. Design Objectives – All Met • Reliably detect patient falls and egress Tags reliably detected within 10” to 14” range • Notify staff at a remote monitoring station using a network connection Network alerts work successfully • Record incidents in logfile Log file correctly documents all incidents

4. Technical Specifications

5. System Diagram

6. Antenna Design • Single Loop Copper foil antenna • 42 in. by 24 in. • Matched to 50 Ω reader

7. Matching and Tuning Networks • Matching Network • Input from Interface Box • Capacitors • Common Mode Choke • Tuning Network • Output to Antenna • Resistor R1 • Variable Capacitor C4 • Jumpers • Common Mode Choke

8. Matching and Tuning Networks • Matching Network • Input from Interface Box • Capacitors • Common Mode Choke • Tuning Network • Output to Antenna • Resistor R1 • Variable Capacitor C4 • Jumpers • Common Mode Choke

9. VB – Computer Implementation • Two Software Modules • Local Monitoring Unit - Communicate locally with reader in/near patient room • Remote Monitoring Station - Provide capability to monitor multiple patients at central location • TCP/IP Information sent includes: • Time stamp • RFID tag ID # • Room #

10. Computer Interface: Process Flow

11. Interfacing with Hospital Network • Local Monitoring Unit (LMU) – VB6 • Interfaces with RFID reader (Serial) • Logs incidents to local text file • Displays tag detection alerts • Transmits alerts and resolutions to remote monitoring station (TCP/IP)

12. Local Monitoring Unit GUI Monitoring Window Connection Window Tag Detection Window

13. Interfacing With Hospital Network • Remote Monitoring Station (RMS) – VB8 • Provides patient table to aid monitoring multiple patients • Receives Alerts • Determines alert type (Fall/Egress/Unknown) • Establishes relevant patient and room number • Displays alert window • Resolves remotely from LMU (TCP/IP)

14. Remote Monitoring Station GUI Fall Alert Patient Monitoring Table Alert Resolution

15. Antenna Packaging • Antenna with anti-fatigue floor mat • Low profile floor mat ½” thickness • Antenna size 30” x 48” • Floor mat size 36” x 48” x ½”

16. Final Product Prototype • Matching network circuit • Adjustable tuning • Floor mat antenna

17. Costs Development Costs: Production Costs: Development Parts List Selling Price (Based on 25% profit)

18. Results • Proposed Read Range = 12” – 24” • Actual Read Range • Average = 11.8” • Peak = 14.6” • Range is dependent on tag orientation and location

19. Experimental Read Range: 0° Orientation *Units in inches

20. Experimental Read Range: 45° Orientation *Units in inches

21. Experimental Read Range: -45° Orientation *Units in inches

22. Experimental Read Range: 90° Orientation *Units in inches

23. Wrist Tag Orientation • Due to orientation dependency, two tags are placed on the wrist to increase read reliability

24. Future Work • Automatic tuning will allow one to achieve maximum read range with a changing environment • An RFID reader with a higher power output or a larger antenna would allow a decrease in wrist tag size • System waterproofing • Antenna embedding

25. Project Demonstration • VIDEO

26. Patient falls cost the health care industry $19.4 billion each year