Instrument for measuring and researching stress in extreme conditions

Call

Masaryk University approached us with a request to develop a complex device for measuring stress load using the new SEL (Stress Entropy Score) method. The research team, led by Prof. Julia Dobrovolna, needed a device that could sense and synchronize dozens of physiological and environmental variables in real time, including those for which commercially available sensors do not exist.

Our solution

We designed and built a comprehensive system consisting of the following key components:

• Sensors of physiological functions – wireless temperature sensors, special module for respiratory mask, adapted for long-term use and movement.
• Environmental sensors – measuring airflow, temperature, humidity and pressure precisely around the wearer, mounted on the vest.
• Software and data processing – EDF+ format collection, live data display via web interface, stress score calculation.
• Safety and biocompatibility – compliance with medical standards including electrical safety, use of certified materials (ISO 10993, FDA) for direct skin contact.

Result

The device consists of a metabolic analyzer with real-time breath-by-breath measurement of tidal volumes and exhaled oxygen and CO2 ratios, a single-channel ECG, a set of sixteen wireless skin surface temperature sensors, ambient air flow, temperature and humidity sensors.

The instrument’s acquisition unit is capable of recording up to several days of EDF format internal memory. During the measurement, the currently available data is evaluated and can be displayed from a tablet or mobile phone in graphical and tabular form, including a basic evaluation of physiological parameters (VO2, heart rate, HRV / heart rate variability, temperature waveforms, etc.).

The collection unit itself calculates the SEL stress score and is able to display it in a graph.