Automated external defibrillators (AED) are an important part of the rescue chain. Their use can dramatically increase the possibility of survival with as little damage to health as possible after a cardiac event, as even first responders with no previous medical knowledge can defibrillate with the help of the devices. Students at The Hochschule Niederrhein (HSNR), the Krefeld medical technology retailer Defiprofi and Smart City Krefeld have been working together on a retrofit solution for the devices to ensure that they are always ready for use.
Until now, defibrillators have had a self-test function that displays a message when pads or batteries run out and the consumable parts need to be replaced or serviced. However, the devices are often located in places that are difficult to see or regular checks are not carried out due to unclear responsibilities. Five students from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering developed an initial prototype in a three-month semester project.
"The biggest challenge passed in finding suitable compatible components, wiring them and writing the appropriate program for them, especially taking LoRaWAN into account," says Oliver Bauland, who is completing a dual electrical engineering degree in the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. LoRaWAN is an energy-efficient radio technology with a very long range that transmits the current retrofit status of the defibrillator to the owner or service provider. The students also had to take into account all restrictions such as the incidence of light.
"The project with Defiprofi gave us the opportunity to gain practical experience in engineering. We went through all the steps from the idea to the sketch to the implementation, giving us a good insight into professional life," says Ayaz Othman, who is studying electrical engineering and computer science.
For the students, the semester project not only meant putting the theoretical knowledge from the lectures into practical application. They also had the opportunity to gain practical experience in dealing with customers. "Cooperation with companies in the context of such projects is particularly important to the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, as it enables us to provide students with practical knowledge relevant to their careers and at the same time incorporate feedback from industry into research and teaching education," says Mark Hloch, project manager and academic staff member at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.
Over the course of the semester, the prototype will be further developed by the students, particularly in the area of energy consumption. This will be done in close cooperation with the Krefeld-based medical technology retailer Defiprofi, which is not cooperating with HSNR for the first time. "We are particularly committed to the topic of first aid for sudden cardiac death and ventricular fibrillation, educating people about it and initiating projects like the current one with the university. Manufacturers often focus on their own products, so we want to create solutions that make a contribution that is as manufacturer-independent as possible," says Christoph Hillus, owner of Defiprofi, based in Krefeld-Uerdingen.
The project idea originated from the Krefeld Smart City project. Smart City is a collective term for development concepts that are intended to make the city more liveable, efficient, technologically advanced, ecological, sustainable and socially inclusive and intelligently link different areas of life. "If something is developed here that can ultimately save human lives, it is an absolutely intelligent contribution to Krefeld's development. A smart city is collaborative and uses everyone's strengths to generate new ideas and innovations. A collaboration like this between a Krefeld-based company and HSNR is of course a successful contribution," explains Markus Lewitzki, Team Leader Smart City and CDO of the City of Krefeld.
