Alzheimer’s Disease: 5.4 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia which causes the deterioration of a patient’s memory, thinking, and behavior (Alzheimer’s Association). Alzheimer’s is categorized by the different stages of progression a patient will go through. The early stage causes patients to be slightly forgetful. While still able to work and socialize as normal, the patient may have trouble remembering names or forget where they placed their things (Alzheimer’s Association). The moderate stage can cause patients to be confused, wander, or forget their own history (Alzheimer’s Association). If the disease enters the late stage the symptoms can become severe to the point that the patient may require full-time care (Alzheimer’s Association). Our device will be targeted at patients suffering from early to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. It will address the issue of Alzheimer’s patients who have trouble remembering dates, events, and daily activities through an alarm/notification watch system, and allow families to track their loved one’s location, heart rate, and sleep patterns.
Caregivers: Those who suffer from Alzheimer's have difficulty living a normal day-to-day life without the assistance of a caregiver. Many caregivers take the form of family members and friends (Family Caregiver Association). They run into problems concerning the patient's communication skills, safety, memory, mode swings, and other problems that arise from the onset of Alzheimer’s (Family Caregiver Association). This can place a lot of stress on caregivers, and many turn to support groups (Family Caregiver Association). Our device will try to alleviate the stress a caregiver feels by protecting and monitoring a patient when the caregiver is not present. Alzheimer’s is a disease that affects both the patient and the family, our device will cater to both.
Citations:
Alzheimer’s Association. “2016 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures.” Alzheimer’s
Association. 25 January 2017. http://www.alz.org/facts/
Talking Memo Watch: US 20140192626 A1 Advantages: $14.95; can record a 10 second voice memo and play it back; speaks date and time aloud Disadvantages: memo must be recorded by person wearing watch; not attractive; not loud enough
Liberty Low Vision Digital Talking Watch: US 8634278 Advantages: $15.99 (affordable) , Talks time outloud, comfortable Disadvantages: Not loud enough, No option to turn volume up, Battery dies too quickly and cannot be replaced, Style is not traditional.
Talking Atomic Watch: US 7843769 Advantage: $29.99 (affordable), Favorable style, Talks time outloud, Easy to see screen, Water resistant, Comfortable, Accurate Disadvantages: To big and bulky, can’t get replacement batteries, hard to hear
Apple Watch: US 20150311960 A1 Advantage: Has a lot of apps and amenities. GPS, Calling, Texting, Tells time, etc. Disadvantages: $269 (costly), Difficult for an older generation to use, non-traditional design.
IP Position
Most Similar Patent:
Method to Track Using a Locator Device- US 6990047 B1-i Joseph Barbagiovanni, Carmela Barbagiovanni-January 24, 2006-Active Patent Device Overview: This is a wristwatch that is able to track the person wearing it. There
is a medical band and notification strip with information about the wearer, a canister
holding pepper spray, and a way to call another person. It is also able to be preset with
notifications by the user. Our Device: Our device will have a similar wrist watch design, and also be able to track
its wearer using GPS. The canister holding pepper spray will be taken out as well as the calling
feature. The medical band will be replaced with a QR code holding the user's medical
information and emergency contacts. It will also only be programmable with notifications
from the caretaker/s who have access to the app. The user will be able to show
compliance with the notification by pressing and holding. There will also be a heart and
sleep monitor added to our device.
Additional Patents:
Medical Reminder System and Messaging Watch- US 6075755 A- David Zarchan- January 26, 1998
Device Overview: This watch is connected to the health care provider’s computer system
and can be set by the health care provider to sound an alarm when medication needs to be
taken. Our Device: Our device will be connected to a caregiver through an app instead of a
computer system. The notifications can be used to remind patients not only to take medicine but when food is served or any important appointments. It will also have added features including: GPS, heart monitor, sleep monitor, QR code, and a panic button.
Heart Rate Monitor- US 20130178753- A1-Shing-Wai David Wu- January 12, 2012 Device Overview: This is heart rate monitoring watch that connects to a mobile
telephone network or a wifi network and transmits data to the cloud. Our Device: Our device will implement the same heart rate monitor, but will also have other capabilities. It will be able to track the user's location, monitor sleep, include a panic button, have a QR code with medical information, and send notifications from a caregiver to the user through an app.
Patient Monitoring Apparatus- US 8647268 B2- Bao Tran- August 24, 2008 Device Overview: This monitoring system includes a body temperature and heart rate
sensors and transmits the data to a wireless transceiver. It is targeted at geriatric patients. Our Device: Our device will include similar features and also will be targeted at geriatric
patients. However, our target consumer is more specific, Alzheimer's patients.
Fundability Worksheet Scores
Customer Validation: 2
Our customer validation was given the score of two because our list provides a wide
range of specialists on the disease. Our twenty potential contacts for validation of our
device include neurologists, Alzheimer’s researchers, patients, Alzheimer’s care facilities, and non-profit organizations based on providing Alzheimer’s awareness. However, in order to receive the best feedback on our product, we must gain validation from more early onset Alzheimer’s patients to ensure the product is one that the patients would feel comfortable using.
Competition: 2
There are several devices that have similar capabilities to our device, but they are not
specifically targeted to Alzheimer’s patients. Our device is designed to be directly
applicable to those who suffer from the disease, while other devices are more generalized.
The cheaper options do not have as many functions and advantages as our device. And
the options that may have the same capabilities are a lot more expensive than what we are
designing. Overall, our device will have a good balance of cost and functionality.
IP Position: 3
There are enough similar patents to our device that it seems very feasible to get ours
patented. However, our device will be separate from their devices in several ways to not
infringe on the preexisting ideas.
BME 100 Spring 2017
