DTU has commercialized its cardiopulmonary resuscitation assistive technology with a first order from health organization Wellbeing.
The cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) assistive technology eCPR was researched and created by the staff at the DTU Center of Visualization & Simulation (CVS). The product was patented at the Intellectual Property Office in 2023 and has been put to use in various first-aid and medical training institutions.
Now, the health organization Wellbeing has placed an order for ten eCPR devices; on March 7, the university will organize the handover ceremony. The health training organization cared for and supported DTU throughout the development of the eCPR. It has many commonalities with the university through its focus on informing and educating about health and its positive contributions to public development.
Wellbeing is currently operative in three areas: informing and educating about health, providing home medical equipment and medical training devices, and health protection and enhancement interventions. As soon as the eCPR was completed, the organization put it to experimental use, and recognizing its usefulness and quality, they placed their first order.
DTU furthermore donated an eCPR device to Tran Phu High School in Danang. The health organization Wellbeing also offered free accounts for its online first-aid theory courses to high school students, to allow them to acquire effective first-aid and CPR skills.
Doctors from health organization Wellbeing and engineers from DTU during an eCPR training session. Photo: DTU
CVS Director Dr Le Van Chung, the head of the eCPR product research team, stated that CPR is a very useful technique that saves lives in emergencies. Current training methods do not, however, provide full parameters nor do they accurately identify the correctness of actions, which would allow users to adjust their technique.
The eCPR is therefore designed based on a combination of 3D virtual reality technology and IoT with real-time sensors. As a result, users get enhanced interactions and can feel the changes brought about by their actions.
“The product integrates sensors that accurately measure compression depth and speed, identify correct postures at the neck, and monitor oral airway pressure,” he emphasized. “With the many new features of the eCPR, users can easily follow the correct procedure in practice and self-study.”
DTU students operating the eCPR cardiopulmonary resuscitation assistive technology. Photo: DTU
Administering first aid correctly in emergency situations, such as strokes, circulatory arrest, or drowning, that lead to cardiac and pulmonary arrest is a necessary skill for every person and organization, such as schools or businesses. Educational institutions can instruct students and staff on timely intervention in sudden issues. This is also one of the reasons why the staff at DTU created the eCPR, combining hardware, software, IoT technology, and virtual reality to create a special training system.
The hardware of the CPR assistive technology includes: an independent CPR practice booth, a plastic model of a human, an electronic circuit board, a PC, and a multi-touch screen designed to be space-efficient and with appropriate user interface.
The software features 3D virtual reality simulation for real-time processing, giving sensations in hands and mouth during CPR through signals received from the IoT sensors.
First-aid training session for businesses using the eCPR. Photo: DTU
Additionally, the eCPR integrates motion games, allowing self-practice with feedback after each session. The evaluations and feedback from the device lead users to gradually improve their skills and to more accurately perform each of the steps in the first-aid process. Through detailed exercises, users of all ages can develop the necessary skills to handle emergency situations, contributing to increased awareness of personal health and reducing potential risks.
During development and testing, the DTU staff decided to place the device in many locations to make it better known. As such, they plan to deploy the product in public places where people can directly experience it and practice, which would improve CPR skills through real interaction.
In high schools, the machine serves as an educational and promotional tool, helping students acquire these skills. For medical and nursing schools, the eCPR can become a resource of educational support.
(Media Center)