Automatic and Continuous Assessment of Blood Pressure Waveforms for Cardiac Health Monitoring of COVID-19 Patients [Funder: Carleton University COVID-19 Rapid Research Response Grants]

There is a need for non-invasive, inexpensive, disposable, automatic, continuous sensing of vital signs during the COVID-19 pandemic - both in hospitals and homes - due to the rapid deterioration of vital functions. This project will deliver a low-cost, continuous automatic sensing system for arterial functions, such as blood pressure waveforms, using a disposable ultrasonic sensor with machine-learning-based signal processing algorithms that can be used in hospitals and homes. Such a system is not currently available. The deliverables of this project will reduce the workload of the healthcare system, help health authorities to guide and manage better treatment plans, and provide home-care patients and caregivers with a tool to make better decisions regarding hospital visits. Furthermore, this system will improve safety for healthcare workers and for those in long-term care facilities. This system will have future use by helping in long-term monitoring of cardiac health beyond the pandemic and in emergency situations