Requirements and Interaction Patterns for a Novel Interaction Device for Patients in Intensive Care

Abstract

Intensive care patients that are weaned from mechanical ventilation are facing substantial physical and psychical stress. Due to the breathing tube, they often cannot voice their basic needs adequately. Possible consequences, amongst other complications, are a prolonged healing process and a delirium. To address this issue and support patient communication in intensive care, we provide a solution tailored to patients that are dealing with limited cognitive and physiological abilities, hindering them to use traditional devices efficiently. For this purpose, we develop a novel interaction device tailored to the special situation of in-bed interaction. In this paper, we present key requirements for the device, which are relevant to the interaction itself as well as possible interaction gestures that may be performed with the device. The basis for this is a human-centered design process consisting of a comprehensive user and context analysis, as well as a requirements analysis. As a result, we identified three categories relevant for the interaction, namely look and feel, sensors, and actuators. The results of the requirement analysis were precise enough to start the actual development process of the device.

Overview and Strategy Analysis of Technology-Based Nonpharmacological Interventions for In-Hospital Delirium Prevention and Reduction: Systematic Scoping Review

“…To take a more comprehensive approach, further development of technologies should aim at meeting patients’ needs by, for instance, providing a means to allow them more control over their situation, feel relaxed, safe, and connected. Some examples are an interaction device to enable ventilated patients to easily express their needs using gestures [ 66 ], a robotic pet that lets patients cuddle and helps them feel calm [ 67 ], or an intelligent alarm system contributing to a relaxing environment for ICU patients by controlling and harmonizing alarm sounds [ 68 ]. Another way to meet patients’ emotional and psychological needs can be found in the provision of (multi-) sensorial and cognitive stimuli.…”

A Framework for Self-Explaining Systems in the Context of Intensive Care

“…We used the Smart Object Library to integrate BIRDY as well as the Leap Motion into Ambient Reflection (further devices are integrated using the Virtual Device API, see below). Since most of the code for BIRDY is written in C/C++, we relied on SWIG 6 to provide a Java interface that in turn is used to provide the smart object to the framework.…”

“…Since we were not able to identify any appropriate device for the use in an intensive care bed, we developed and integrated BIRDY (Ball-shaped Interactive Rehabilitation Device), a novel device for in-bed interaction and the special constraints of typical weaning patients (cf. [6]). We further identified possible device candidates that could potentially be used by intensive care patients with more comprehensive cognitive and physical skills in later phases when providing minor hardware changes or when used as disposable devices.…”