Elderly fall and health condition detection and forecasting by SilaTech
In an effort to address the significant issue of effective healthcare and health monitoring for the elderly, a new device has been developed by SilaTech. This innovative solution, designed for the estimated 84 million elderly individuals living alone in the Western world, aims to improve early detection of health issues and enable timely care interventions.
The device, which uses novel Impulse Radio Ultra-Wideband (IR-UWB) radar technology, passively and continuously monitors an elderly person's movement and vital signs without the use of wearables, cameras, or surveillance. Its compact footprint, not bigger than a smoke detector, makes it unobtrusive and easy to install in any living space.
How it differs from current solutions
- Non-contact Monitoring: Unlike wearable devices or camera-based systems, SilaTech’s radar does not require the elderly to wear anything or be in direct line-of-site, increasing comfort and privacy.
- Passive and Continuous: The system continuously monitors vital signs and movement passively, without interrupting or depending on user interaction.
- Privacy-preserving: Since radar does not produce detailed images or video, it is less intrusive and more acceptable in sensitive environments.
- Works Through Obstructions: The radar can detect vital signs through obstacles like clothes, blankets, or furniture, providing reliable data under various daily living conditions.
- Low Power and Safe: Utilizes ultra-low power emissions well within safe limits, making it suitable for continuous home use.
Early Prediction and Health Alerts
SilaTech's proprietary algorithm can predict a range of health issues early, allowing carers to take early action and alert healthcare professionals. Health alerts are generally only triggered when the older person has a fall or becomes ill, but with SilaTech's device, potential health deterioration can be detected sooner, potentially preventing hospital visits and substantial health deterioration.
Across 15,000 care homes in the US alone, hospital visits for falls or illness while unsupervised cost over $1 billion a year. SilaTech plans to initially serve the 17,000 care homes in the UK, with plans to expand further.
SilaTech was founded by Alexandar Todorov, a University of Southampton Researcher, along with Georgi Pachov and Plamen Dimitrov. Inspired by personal concerns for the health of his elderly grandfather, Todorov and his team have developed a device that could revolutionize elderly healthcare and monitoring.
SilaTech is looking to talk with DeepTech investors with experience in bringing technology to market in a business-to-business environment. With falls and illness while unattended being the leading causes of hospital admissions worldwide by the elderly, SilaTech's device could make a significant impact on the healthcare industry.
- The technology developed by SilaTech, a device for elderly health monitoring, employs Impulse Radio Ultra-Wideband (IR-UWB) radar, allowing passive and continuous monitoring of movement and vital signs without relying on wearables, cameras, or surveillance.
- Unlike other solutions, SilaTech's device ensures non-contact monitoring, increasing user comfort and privacy while operating in a privacy-preserving manner in sensitive environments.
- The system, with its low power emission and ability to work through obstructions, is designed to provide reliable data under various daily living conditions, making it suitable for continuous home use.
- By employing a proprietary algorithm, SilaTech's device can predict a range of health issues earlier, enabling carers to take proactive actions and alert healthcare professionals, potentially reducing hospital visits and significant health deterioration.
- SilaTech, founded by Alexandar Todorov, Georgi Pachov, and Plamen Dimitrov, plans to initially address the needs of 17,000 care homes in the UK before expanding further and seeks investment from DeepTech investors with experience in bringing technology to market in a business-to-business environment.
