Our proposed solution is BLISS, a blood loss indicating sensor system (shown below). There are two components to BLISS, a band-aid-like sensor patch (below, left) and an alarm box (below, right). The patch contains a sensor that monitors the venous return site for blood. When blood is detected, the alarm unit sends a message to the alarm box via Bluetooth, causing the alarm unit to sound and alert the patient.
The wireless feature of our device removes one cable/cord that tethers the patient to their dialysis machine. This allows patients to be more comfortable while sleep. Overall, nocturnal home hemodialysis offers a superior patient experience because patients have control and flexibility over their treatment. Recently, there was a push by the federal government encouraging home dialysis treatment, as home dialysis significantly increases a dialysis patient’s quality of life. Medicare will soon begin offering incentives to care groups who offer at-home hemodialysis. Because of this push, we expect to see an increase in home dialysis treatment in the future. Additionally, our device could be used as an added safeguard during in-center hemodialysis treatments, taking stress off of nurses who often care for many patients at one time.