A Blueprint design of optical-based wristband for non-invasive and continuous health status monitoring of sickle cell disease patients

Abstract

Sickle cell disease is a group of health disorders that affect hemoglobin in red blood cells. Sickle cell disease causes multiple manifestations and complications, including infections, delayed growth, pain crisis, and multi-organs damage. These complications can disturb the patients' vital signs, including body temperature, heart rate, and oxygen saturation. The decline in hemoglobin level is another indication of sickle cell disease due to abnormal hemoglobin that distorts red blood cells resulting in sickle cell anemia. RBCs, also called erythrocytes, are found in the blood and responsible for carrying oxygen to the body tissues attached to the hemoglobin. Optical microscopy can detect and monitor sickle cell disease, but it requires a blood sample and offline analysis, which is a time-consuming process. There is currently no known technology available to provide non-invasive monitoring solutions for sickle cell disease patients' health. Therefore, a need arises for a non-invasive and continuous monitoring solution to continuously check on sickle cell disease patients, which can be transformed into a wearable monitoring device. The proposed optical wristband consists of optical sensors that provide non-invasive and continuous health status monitoring of sickle cell disease patients using key vital signs and hemoglobin levels. A comparative study was performed among 21 participants and equally divided into three groups (non-anemic, anemic, and sickle cell disease patients). The data was collected from optical sensors, Arduino used as a processor, and continuously monitors the patient's vital signs and hemoglobin levels. Abnormal reading of any parameter alerts the user of any unhealthy status, and the parameter's trend assists the clinician in patient assessment. The body temperature and oxygen saturation levels of the anemic patients were found in the normal ranges, but the heart rate of three patients and hemoglobin of all the participants were found in aberrant ranges. The vital signs and hemoglobin levels of all sickle cell disease patients were beyond the normal ranges and significantly different (p>0.001) than non-anemic and anemic groups. Therefore, these physiological parameters monitoring has clinical importance for sickle cell disease management and early treatment.