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Project Proposal
Division of Biomedical Engineering,
Department of Electronic Engineering,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Fung King Lok Ronald 1155016356
Ho Lok Wai Cola 1155016113
Wong Siu Yee Suye 1155016039
ELTU1111Technical Communications (2012-13)
7th December, 2012
An innovative product for the Creative Design Contest
Tele-Pulse Taker Prevention Prevails over Cure
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Table of Contents
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ...................................................................................................................... 4
ABSTRACT ......................................................................................................................................... 5 LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................................ 6
LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................................... 7
TERMINOLOGY ................................................................................................................................. 8
1. BACKGROUND............................................................................................................................... 9
1.1 PROBLEM IDENTIFIED ................................................................................................................... 9 1.2 TARGET USERS ......................................................................................................................... 10 1.3 OUR DESIGN ............................................................................................................................. 10
1.3.1 Basic Concepts of Chinese Medicine Pulse-Taking Techniques ................................... 10 1.3.2 The Relation between th e Pulse Waveform and Possible Diseases ............................ 10 1.3.3 Operation of Our Design ............................................................................................... 11
1.4 CURRENT STATE OF ART ............................................................................................................. 11 1.4.1 Mobile Monitoring System Based on Tradition Chinese Medicine .............................. 11 1.4.2 Developing Classification Indices for Chinese Pulse Diagnosis ................................... 12 1.4.3 eZ430-Chronos Development Tool ............................................................................... 12
2. PROJECT OBJECTIVES ................................................................................................................. 13
2.1 IN THE SHORT RUN .................................................................................................................... 13 2.2 IN THE LONG RUN ..................................................................................................................... 13
3. DESCRIPTION OF PRODUCT ....................................................................................................... 14
3.1 OVERVIEW OF DESIGN ................................................................................................................ 14
3.2 PART-BY-PART DESCRIPTION ....................................................................................................... 15 3.2.1 Cuffs .............................................................................................................................. 15 3.2.2 Sensors .......................................................................................................................... 15 3.2.3 LEDs ............................................................................................................................... 15 3.2.4 Microprocessor ............................................................................................................. 15 3.2.5 Wireless Module ........................................................................................................... 16
4. BENEFITS OF PRODUCT .............................................................................................................. 17
4.1 INDIVIDUAL .............................................................................................................................. 17 4.2 SOCIETY ................................................................................................................................... 17 4.3 WORLDWIDE ............................................................................................................................ 18
5. FEASIBILITY STUDY ..................................................................................................................... 19
5.1 NEEDS ANALYSIS ....................................................................................................................... 19 5.1.1 Survey ........................................................................................................................... 19
5.1.1.1 Survey Design ...................................................................................................................... 19 5.1.1.2 Analysis of the Results ........................................................................................................ 20
5.1.2 Research by Other parties ............................................................................................ 21 5.1.2.1 World Health Organization (WHO) ...................................................................................... 21 5.1.2.2 Hong Kong Ideas Centre ...................................................................................................... 21
6. LIFE SPAN .................................................................................................................................... 23
6.1 LIFE SPAN OF CUFF AND NATURAL RUBBER ................................................................................... 23 6.2 LIFE SPAN OF MICROPROCESSOR ................................................................................................. 23 6.3 LIFE SPAN OF PIEZOELECTRICSENSOR .......................................................................................... 23 6.4 LIFE SPAN OF BATTERY .............................................................................................................. 23 6.5 LIFE SPAN OF LEDS ................................................................................................................... 23
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7. FINANCIAL CONSIDERATION ...................................................................................................... 24
7.1 MATERIAL COST ........................................................................................................................ 24 7.2 MISCELLANEOUS COST ............................................................................................................... 24
8. IMPLEMENTATION PLAN ...................................................................................................... 25
8.1 TESTING ................................................................................................................................... 25 8.1.1 Steps .............................................................................................................................. 25 8.1.2 Collaboration .................................................................................................................. 26
8.2 ESTABLISHMENT ....................................................................................................................... 26 8.2.1 Target Group .................................................................................................................. 26 8.2.2 Promotion ...................................................................................................................... 27
8.2.2.1 Commercial Advertisement ................................................................................................... 27 8.2.2.2 Institute of Higher Education ................................................................................................. 27
8.2.3 Sales Channel ................................................................................................................. 27 8.2.4 Cooperation ................................................................................................................... 27
8.3 EVALUATION ............................................................................................................................ 28 8.4 FUTURE PLAN AND STEPPING FURTHER ........................................................................................ 28
8.4.1 Expectation Adjustment ................................................................................................. 28 8.4.2 Perfection of Product ..................................................................................................... 28 8.4.3 Enlarging market size ..................................................................................................... 28 8.4.4 Inspiration ...................................................................................................................... 29
9. CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................. 30
10. REFERENCE ............................................................................................................................... 31
11. APPENDICES .............................................................................................................................. 32
11.1 THE 13 CHINESE PULSE WAVEFORMS AND THEIR DESCRIPTION ....................................................... 33 11.2 QUESTIONNAIRE DESIGNED FOR NEEDS ANALYSIS ........................................................................ 35 11.3 RESULTS OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE............................................................................................... 36
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Abstract
Despite the common consent that “Prevention prevails over cure”, littlereally take action. The working force, especially, often attribute their lack of
personal health awareness to everyday heavy workload. It is often too late for
remedy when certain health problems deteriorate to a degree that would finally
catches the patient’s attention.
In view of this, our project aims at designing a convenient health-
monitoring portable device that combines advance medical technology and the
pulse-taking techniques of Chinese medicine to improve the health of today’s
busy Hong Kong people.
The scoop of this proposal consists of the description; feasibility study
and the implementation plan of the product.
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List of Tables
Pg. 24Table 1. A table showing the material cost per set of Tele-Pulse Taker
Pg. 24
Table 2. A table showing the miscellaneous cost per annum
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List of Figures
Pg. 9Fig. 1 Pie Chart Showing the Projected Main Causes of Death, Worldwide, All Ages,
2005
Pg. 14
Fig. 2 Flow Diagram of the Tele-Pulse Taking System
Pg. 25
Fig 3. A flow chart showing the stages in implementation
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Terminology
ADC: Analog to Digital ConverterLED: Light Emitting Diode
NCD: Non-communicable Disease
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1. Background
Well-educated citizens may all be aware of the importance of their personal
health but often reason their low regard to healthcare to lack of time and purenegligence. A portable healthcare product that serves to regularly monitor a
person’s body condition even at work would benefit today’s workforce.
1.1 Problem Identified
Hong Kong people, though well-educated, are usually ignorant and
unconscious about maintaining or protecting one’s health. This could be verified
by the survey conducted by the Centre for Health Protection which showed that
only a minority of Hong Kong citizens (17%) took medical checkup regularly. In
addition to the westernizing lifestyle of Hong Kong people, it is predictable itwould cause a menace to the health of Hong Kong people and result in a higher
mortality rate of chronic diseases in the future. Studies showed that by 2020, the
rank order of major disease burden would be dominated by chronic diseases in HK[1]
.
The financial burden was estimated to be around US$250 million.
More importantly, it is not a localized problem. According to the World
Health Organization (WHO), there is an increasing trend for non-communicable
diseases (NCDs) in the world [2]. As shown in Fig. 1, the estimated percentage of
death caused by NCDs (including cardiovascular diseases; cancer; chronic
respiratory diseases and diabetes) is about 61%. NCDs are often chronic diseaseswhich could be effectively cured if discovered early implying that they are all
preventable.
Fig. 1
Pie Chart Showing the Projected Main Causes of Death, Worldwide, All Ages, 2005 [3]
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Meanwhile, Western medical field focuses mainly on curing but provides
rather few resorts to prevention. In contrast, Chinese medicine, advocating “To
prevent illness from arising instead of curing the sick” since 2000 years ago,
would be the solution to the problem identified.
A portable device which monitors one’s health condition on a daily basisbasing on principles of Chinese medicine would be a perfect resort for people
who claim that they are too busy to take good care of their health.
1.2 Target Users
We target the age group of the users of our design from 20 to 60 years
old as most of them will reach or are at a working stage. They are those who are
most likely to neglect their body status due to their extraordinarily heavy
workload.
1.3 Our Design
The main focus of the Tele-Pulse Taker would be the combination of
principles of pulse-taking technique of Chinese medicine with advance medical
technology.
1.3.1 Basic Concepts of Chinese Medicine Pulse-Taking Techniques
Different from usual simple pulse rate measurement, Chinese medicine
practitioner would apply 3 levels of pressure using the ring, middle and index
finger on the radial artery at the wrist for pulse-taking. The 3 levels of pressure
are light force, moderate force and sufficient force which could sense the pulse
at different levels.
Our product would mimic this technique by varying the pressure of the
cuff and measure the pulse waveform using force sensors lining on the inner
surface of the cuff.
1.3.2 The Relation between the Pulse Waveform and Possible Diseases
The longstanding diagnostic method employed by Chinese medicine
practitioner suggests that different characteristics of the pulse waveforms
correlate to their corresponding clinical significance.
Appendix 11.1, adopted from a research which tried to develop
classification indices for Chinese pulses diagnosis[4]
, shows the 13 Chinesepulse waveforms and their descriptions.
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The pulse waveform is intimately related to health condition.
Possible chronic diseases could be diagnosed by the similar theory too. As
mentioned in a paper investigating the Chinese pulses , “Pathologic changes
of a person’s body condition are reflected in the wrist -pulse pictures. Clinical
studies demonstrate that patients with hypertension, cardiovascular disease,
and diabetes, exhibit premature loss of arterial …... The wrist-pulse shape,amplitude, and rhythm are also altered in correspondence with the
hemodynamic characteristics of blood flow” [4].
To be precise, for instance, if a patient got both surging and rapid pulse
waveform, he is likely to possess heart problem.
1.3.3 Operation of Our Design
Our product is designed for detecting, storing and preliminarily analysingpulse patterns for healthcare purposes on a regular basis.
Operation of the machine comprises 3 stages, namely pulse taking,
preliminary analysis of result and result delivery. Pulse is signified by its cyclic
change in pressure. These pressure signals are sensed by the arrays of pressure
sensors in the cuffs and then digitalized. Digitalization refers to conversion of
the tactile pulsation into binary numbers that computer understands.
Since characteristic pulse pattern correlates to health condition, the
digitalized pulse pattern would be preliminarily analyzed and analogized tocommon pathological patterns based on its depth, strength, smoothness and
rhythm. The results can be sent to physician through wireless module whenever
necessary.
1.4 Current State of Art
There is no specially designed pulse taker for Chinese medicine in the
market for medical use yet. However, some similar researches of the related
topic are going on.
1.4.1 Mobile Monitoring System Based on Tradition Chinese Medicine[5]
The South China University of Technology is investigating on a
design of mobile monitoring system based on traditional Chinese medicine.
The scheme is set up by 5 sub-systems, namely, tele-video camera system,
tele-ausculating system, IP-phone system, tele-pulse-taking system and
Chinese medicine assistant diagnosis system. It is a complicated system and
is still in development and under research.
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1.4.2 Developing Classification Indices for Chinese Pulse Diagnosis[4]
A databank consisting of comprehensive pulse waveform patterns for
pulse diagnosis is required to assist and accomplish our design theory.
Related research about automated interpretation of Chinese pulse
waveform pattern has been going on. It is foreseeable that an extensivedatabank with fine classification indices could be introduced in the coming
years.
1.4.3 eZ430-Chronos Development Tool[6]
This is an integrated and wireless system which provides a platform
for the user to create wireless smart watch applications. It offers pulse rate;
temperature; battery voltage measurements as its fundamental features.
Furthermore, it has reprogrammable characteristics for custom wirelessapplications. Portable pulse rate measurement device has been highly
developed. Such technology would be applicable for the development of the
Tele-Pulse Taker.
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2. Project Objectives
2.1 In the Short Run
Our design would help to improve the health of the user and cure the
foreseeable disease as early as possible as it allows early diagnosis. It also helps to
enhance physician-patient relationship.
2.2 In the Long Run
A comprehensive medical history for individuals could be achieved. It is
hoped that the Tele-Pulse Taker would help to uphold Chinese Medicine’s standingin the international medical field.
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3. Description of Product
The Tele-Pulse Taker comprises only 1 main unit: the cuff. The detailoperation and principle of the system would be illustrated below.
3.1 Overview of Design
Fig. 2
Flow Diagram of the Tele-Pulse Taking System
A brief flow of the operating system is shown in Fig. 2.
The Tele-Pulse Taker measures the pulse with reference to Chinese medicine
pulse-taking methods. It applies 3 levels of pressure: light force; moderate force and
sufficient force on the radial artery at the wrist. The pulse taker would mimic the
technique by varying the pressure of the cuff and measure the pulse waveform using
piezoelectric sensors lining on the inner surface of the cuff.
The Tele-Pulse Taker also analyses some common pulse waveforms and then
determines the body condition of the user. Once abnormal waveform is identified,
the LED would light up and a brief health report on the possible health problem
would be sent to the user’s computer. The user shall then choose whether to
forward the waveform to the simulator of the doctor for further professional
analysis. Every record of the pulse pattern would be kept as reference for further
diagnosis in the future if necessary.
Microprocessor
ADCSensors
Wireless
module
LEDs
Tele-Pulse-taker’s cuff
Sever with
databank
Computer of
user
Simulator of
doctor
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3.2 Part-by-Part Description
3.2.1 Cuffs
Two cuffs are provided for pulse taking on both hands at the same time
on a regular basis. Pressure is applied by the cuff on the user’s wrists to detectpulse pattern once per 3 hours. Additional measurement would be taken 15
minutes after initial measurement should abnormal pattern denoting abnormal
body condition be detected, this is to double check the result and hence to
minimise diagnostic error.
The cuffs are made of natural rubber which is a water-proof material. It
protects the inner structure from mechanical damage and also prevents the
user from getting electric shock.
3.2.2 Sensors
Piezoelectric sensors are used to detect the pulse waveform. When
stress is applied on the crystal inside the sensors, electrical signals would be
produced. The electric signals generated would be proportional to the amount
of pressure sensed.
3.2.3 LEDs
When the pulse detected is abnormal, the red LED would light up to
remind the user to check the health report being sent to his/her computer.
The green LED would light after the user has correctly wears the cuff in
position to indicate the system has detected the pulse.
3.2.4 Microprocessor
The microprocessor regulates the magnetic field generated to give 3different degrees of hold-down pressure during pulse taking.
After the signals from the sensors are inputted into ADC, the
microprocessor would transfer the signals to the wireless module.
The microprocessor also lights up the LED under two conditions mentioned
above
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3.2.5 Wireless Module
The wireless module helps to transmit the data through a wireless network.
Data would be compared with that stored in the databank developed by the
Institute of Computing Technology of Chinese Academy of Sciences and
experimental research centre of Chinese Academy of Chinese Medical Sciencein Beijing in 2011 [5]. Possible illness or disease would be analyzed.
After the data is being analyzed, the module would receive feedback from
the server if the pulse wave analyzed is abnormal.
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4. Benefits of Product
4.1 Individual
Customers would be benefited in 3 ways from the Tele-Pulse Taker:
The user would be benefited from short-term and long-term
improvement of health. In the short run, since the customer’s pulse waveforms
are monitored regularly, minor diseases could be detected once triggered. In the
long run, the user would be reminded of his health condition once possible
problems are identified. Therefore, his health could be maintained with constant
monitoring.
The user would be able to understand their health condition better with a
comprehensive health record once they start utilizing the Tele-Pulse Taker. The
customer could suggest the physician to refer back to the pulse waveform
patterns to fuller interpret their present health condition and advise them
correspondingly to better their lifestyle.
The patient-physician relationship could be enhanced. Given a more
efficient way of communication and convenient means of health information
sharing, physician can grasp the patient’s condition better and patient can hence
rely more on physician, thereby establishing a closer linkage between the two
parties.
4.2 Society
Society would be benefited in 5 ways once the Tele-Pulse Taker is
extensively used by Hong Kong people:
The medical resources spent initiated by chronic diseases in Hong Kong is
estimated to be around US$250 million [1]. It also creates a huge medical burden to
society. Given the preventable property of chronic disease, if prevention strategies
such as constant monitoring and screening are well performed, such heavy burden
on society could be relieved. This result could be achieved if the Tele-Pulse Taker is
widely used among the Hong Kong population as it emphasizes on constant health
monitoring and prevention.
The mortality rate of chronic disease could be reduced for the same
reason.
Comprehensive medical record of the user could be achieved, which
could further provide citizens with better health care services as they are invaluableresources for public health analysis. Such information also enables economic
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5. Feasibility Study
5.1 Needs Analysis
Needs analysis is needed to determine how the design of our product
could fulfill the requirements of the current situation. It also further
demonstrates the feasibility of the product.
Surveys were designed and research papers regarding related topics were
studied.
5.1.1 Survey
The survey was conducted from 26th
October to 9th
November, 2012,
which lasted for 2 weeks in total. 47 people were interviewed. We targeted
the interviewee to potential consumers of age between 20 and 60.
30 questionnaires were surveyed in the Chinese University of Hong
Kong. The remaining 17 were distributed to random individuals within the
age range in the Sha Tin Park.
5.1.1.1 Survey Design (Please refer to appendix-2 for the questionnaire)
Questions would be set mainly in the following 3 categories:
1. The degree of awareness of personal health
2. The attitude towards Chinese medicine and Western medicine
3. The attitude towards mobile healthcare product
The survey takes about 2 to 3 minutes to complete. 10 questions
were set. The first 2 questions belong to the first category; the third and
fourth belong to the second category and the remaining belong to
category 3. 5 of the questions were yes-no questions, 4 have multiple
answers for the interviewee to choose from. The remaining one asks the
interviewee to rank the choices.
The questionnaire was specially designed to make it easily
understandable. Some terms were further elaborated for clarity. For
instance, in question 5, examples for “healthcare products” were given for
the respondents as blood pressure taker; digital thermometer and blood
glucose meter. It helps to ensure that the interviewees are on the right
track and the reliability of the result could be enhanced.
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Besides, the sequence of the questions was planned in a way that
some easy and factual questions were offered first. After that, more
complicated questions that require the interviewee’s opinion were asked.
This gradual change of questioning style allows the interviewee to follow
easily.
5.1.1.2 Analysis of the Results (Please refer to appendix-3 for the detail
results)
Degree of awareness towards personal health
More than half of the respondents said that they would see a
doctor if they find themselves ill. Meanwhile, only 7% of them have
regular body checkups.
This result indicates that people often seek help only when
problems occurred but they seldom take preventive measures such as
having regular body checkup which could effectively reduce the chance
of catching chronic diseases.
Attitude towards Chinese medicine and Western medicine
A majority of interviewees (91%) preferred Western medicine to
Chinese medicine. However, 98% of them agreed on the credibility of
diagnosis using pulse-taking principles.
Majority people do not opt for resorting to Chinese medicine
completely but there is a trend that they would gradually accept
Chinese medicine’s standing in medical field.
Attitude towards mobile healthcare product
Slightly more than half of the respondents had at least 1 or
more healthcare products with them. 83% of them claimed that they
are willing to wear a portable, light and convenient health monitoringproduct every day. Less than half (44%) of the interviewees had bought
any healthcare products before. For those who said they had never
bought any such products, 71% thought that they were necessary; 17%
though that they were not attractive enough because they were not
portable. 48% of the answerers were willing to pay $100 or more for a
device that monitors daily health signals. When people were asked to
rank different items according to their effectiveness in helping them to
stay away from diseases, “healthcare products” had a higher order
than “nutritional supplement”.
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Generally, interviewees had a positive response towards mobile
healthcare products.
A particular point to note is that many of the respondents
thought that “not necessary” or “not portable” are reasons that
prevent them from buying healthcare products. The result of thisquestion does not apply to the Tele-Pulse Taker. It is believed that
what they refer to as health products in their mind were only those on
the shelf nowadays. However, our innovative product is not only
portable but also necessary for the workforce to maintain their health
condition.
Moreover, results to question 6 and 9, which has been designed
to diffuse in the features of the Tele-Pulse taker, are very promising. A
majority of the interviewees were willing to wear and buy our product
for $100 or more.
5.1.2 Research by Other parties
To consolidate the needs analysis, further investigation on the public
health needs is required.
5.1.2.1 World Health Organization (WHO)
The WHO suggests that there is a worldwide increasing trend for
non-communicable diseases (NCDs). More importantly, all NCDs are
preventable. Therefore, the WHO announces an advice to the medical
field: the needs in the coming years should be focused on prevention;
diagnostic and screening at early stage. [7] The Tele-Pulse Taker fulfills
the mentioned 3 criteria.
5.1.2.2 Hong Kong Ideas Centre
The Hong Kong Ideas Centre did a background report on the
development of Chinese medicine in Hong Kong in 2010. “……Hong
Kong’s potential to become an international centre for Chinese
medicine and medical practitioners. This is another industry which,
through the application of innovation and technology, can enhance
Hong Kong’s economic growth and give us a competitive edge on
global scale.”[8]
Technology and innovations of Chinese medicine need to be
strengthened to assist Hong Kong stands as the international centre ofChinese medicine in the world. The Tele-Pulse Taker would, at best,
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help to promote Hong Kong’s status. The government is also providing
subsidies for Chinese medicine related innovations to pursue her
objective. It is hope that our team could successfully compete for the
government subsidies to further reduce the possible expense on the
Tele-Pulse Taker development.
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6. Life Span
Under normal working condition, the Tele-Pulse Taker can stand for morethan 3 years. The life span of the product hinges on the durability of the
fundamental parts, the detailed life spans of which are shown below.
6.1 Life Span of Cuff and Natural Rubber
The cuff can stand for more than 15 years. It is made of plastic and is
wrapped with natural rubber. The natural rubber chosen has great hardness (40A)
and high tensile strength (2500psi) that can protect the cuff from wear and tear
during pulse-taking process, making the cuff overall wear-resistant, tensile, tough,
and waterproof.
6.2 Life Span of Microprocessor
The microprocessor can stand for more than 5 years. The life span of a
microprocessor depends most on power output. The computational power required
is moderate as compared to ordinary microprocessor used in blood pressure sensor
and blood glucose level monitor.
6.3 Life Span of Piezoelectric Sensor
The piezoelectric sensor can stand for 3 years. The piezoelectric sensor is
subjected to mechanical shock, making it the most fragile part. Exaggerated motion
of user may cause loosening of sensors’ internal parts..
6.4 Life Span of Battery
Estimate the battery life. The unit cannot work if the battery level falls below10%. Under normal condition, i.e. taking 5 pulses per day (at a 3-hour interval), the
battery can stand for 3 years.
6.5 Life Span of LEDs
The power output of LED as low as 1.5W and the parts involved is minimal. It
can stand for more than 20 years.
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7. Financial Consideration
The price of Tele-Pulse Taker would be set at HKD 450. The earning is aroundHKD 70 per set of Tele-Pulse Taker sold. The estimated sales volume is 800 sets in
the first year, so a revenue of HKD56,000 is expected, the earning less miscellaneous
cost per annum is HKD11,000. As the Tele-Pulse Taker gains in popularity and
maturity, the cost for promotion and research would be reduced and the net profit
will increase significantly.
The prices are quoted from online catalogue [9][10] and wholesale prices are
chosen for estimation.
7.1 Material Cost
It should be noted that since each set of Tele-Pulse Taker includes 2 cuffs (one
for left wrist and one for right wrist), so the quantities of all parts of the main unit
are doubled. The estimated material cost per set of Tele-Pulse Taker is shown below.
Item (Quantity) Estimated Cost (HKD)
Natural Rubber x2 8
Cuff - Plastic x2 5
- Velcro hooks and loops x2 1
Piezoelectric Sensor x 6 90Microprocessor x2 180
Wireless Module x 2 90
LED x 4 0.12
Battery x2 7
Total 381.12
Table 1. A table showing the material cost per set of Tele-Pulse Taker
7.2 Miscellaneous Cost
The cost here is just a rough estimation. The maintenance is mainly for
replacement of battery since replacement of battery by users is not recommended
lest the internal subtle parts be damaged.Promotion and research content can be
found in Implement Plan (Pg. 25-29) in greater detail.
Item Estimated Cost (HKD)
Maintenance & After-sale service 15,000
Promotion 20,000
Research 10,000
Total 45,000Table 2. A table showing the miscellaneous cost per annum.
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8. Implementation Plan
The implementation of Tele-Pulse Taker comprises 3 stages, namely testing,establishment, and evaluation. The focuses and strategies employed in each stage
are different in order to perfect and justify the product promptly and accordingly.
Fig 3. A flow chart showing the stages in implementation
8.1 Testing
Before releasing the product into the market, thorough tests would be
conducted. The aim of this stage is to ensure the reliability and effectiveness of the
product.
8.1.1 Steps
There are 3 main steps involved.
1. Ensuring the reliability and accuracy of microprocessor
The microprocessor would be set to generate different level of
pressure to check whether a constant and steady pressure can be
maintained during pulse-taking process.
2.
Ensuring accuracy of piezoelectric sensor
Piezoelectric sensors would be applied accordingly to ensure its
measurement accuracy. The results would be checked against that
obtained by standard mercury pressure gauge.
3. Improving pulse pattern identification
The pulse pattern obtained by the Tele-Pulse Taker and from well-
established data bank would be compared. This is to ensure that the
pulse patterns we obtained are smooth and can be easily identified by the
product. Advice and guidance would be sought from the School of
Testing-Quality
Control
Establishment-Setting Target Group
-Promotion
-Ready on Shelf
-Cooperation
Evaluation-Perfection
-Improving Sales
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8.2.2 Promotion
8.2.2.1 Commercial Advertisement
Advertisement will be placed in various magazines that
are read by our target group at a frequency of around twice amonth for 3 months.
1. Business Magazine
This is the magazine our target group commonly
prescribes and reads, eg. Business Weekly and Economists.
It is the most direct way to reach them and convey the
product.
2.
Healthcare Magazine
By placing advertisement in healthcare magazine,
interest form healthcare lovers can be aroused and thereby
increasing the target group size.
8.2.2.2 Institute of Higher Education
Talks would be organized with a view to promote
Chinese long-standing diagnostic methods as well as
publicizing our innovative product to students. This group ofaudience is our potential customers who will enter the
workforce in near future.
8.2.3 Sales Channel
Our product would be available in exclusive shops and online. We
would also bargain with chained shops like The Watson’s to make the Tele-
Pulse Taker easily available.
8.2.4 Cooperation
We would cooperate with education institute and clinical authority
to promote our product.
1. Education Institute
Educational talks and events would be co-organized with
education institutes in order to publicize the product throughpromoting Chinese diagnostic methods.
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This can help increase the recognition and credibility of
Chinese remedying method in the younger generation and promote
the idea of natural remedy as a bonus.
2.
Clinical Authority
Rental services would be rendered to high-risk patients
recommended by physicians. This is to get more feedbacks.
8.3 Evaluation
Survey and interviews would be conducted to our customers to evaluate
their level of satisfaction and rooms for improvement. The Tele-Pulse Taker would
be modified and justified accordingly to perfect the product.
8.4 Future Plan and Stepping Further
And in the future, we want to step further to convey our mindset, perfect the
product and improve sales.
8.4.1 Expectation Adjustment
It is expected that in the beginning stage, people would place their
emphasis on diagnostic part rather than the prevention of disease part. Yet,
we want to switch back the focus on prevention rather than diagnosis, in
order to achieve our ultimate goal that is to make health as an accessible
asset for everyone.
8.4.2 Perfection of Product
Through cooperation with clinical parties, more sample pulse pattern
waveforms could be collected in order to enrich the databank and thereby
making the product more widely applicable.
8.4.3 Enlarging market size
In the meantime, the reasons for limiting the target group to
workforce aged 20 to 60 is that pulse pattern waveforms vary with ages,
consolidation of product is required before implementing to a greater
population.
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But with continuous research, the above problem can be solved and the
target group size can be possibly extended.
8.4.4 Inspiration
It is our ultimate goal to convey the message that prevention prevails
over cure and make health as an accessible asset for everyone.
Enhancing the recognition of Chinese remedying method internationally
would be a bonus in acknowledging the Chinese long-standing wisdom. In later-
stage promotion when Tele-Pulse Taker has gained popularity, focus would be
placed on these areas so that the public would correlate the Tele-Pulse Taker
with prevention of disease, convenience and innovation with long-standing
wisdom.
It is also our dream to establish a comprehensive medical history for
every individual in order to increase diagnostic efficiency and reduce medical
burden in the long run. This can be accomplished by recoding the user’s pulse
pattern waveform on a regular basis.
To summarize the implementation plan in one sentence, we want to
make health as an accessible asset for everyone.
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9. Conclusion
To conclude, the Tele-Pulse Taker is a portable, convenient and reasonablypriced health-monitoring device. It is beneficial in many aspects and its
marketability is well supported by the feasibility study.
We strongly believe that with the implementation of our product, health
IS accessible.
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10. Reference
[1] G. Leung, “The challenge of chronic conditions in Hong Kong,” Hong KongMedical J., vol. 8, no. 5, pp. 376-378, 1 Oct. 2002. [PDF]. Available:
http://www.hkmj.org/article_pdfs/hkm0210p376.pdf. [Accessed 16 Nov. 2012]
[2] 1st Initial. World health organization, “Needs assessment for medical devices,”
WHO Medical device technical series, vol. , no. , p. 3, Jun. 2001. [PDF]. Available:
http://apps.who.int/bookorders/anglais/detart1.jsp?codlan=1&codcol=93&codcch=
258. [Accessed 16 Nov. 2012]
[3] J. Zhang and R. Wang, S. Lu, “EasiCPRS: Design and Implementation of a Portable
Chinese Pulse-wave Retrieval System,” Proc. of the 9th ACM Conference onEmbedded Networked Sensor Syst. , p. 149, 1 Nov. 2011. [PDF]. Available:
http://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=2070958. [Accessed 15 Oct. 2012]
[4] J. Shu, Y. Sun, 1st Initial. , “Developing classification indices for Chinese pulse
diagnosis,” Complementary Therapies in Medicine, vol. 15, pp. 190-198, 21 Aug. 2006.
[PDF]. Available: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17709064. [Accessed 15 Oct.
2012]
[5] Z. Chao and Q. Lui, X. Wu, “A Design of Mobile Monitoring System Based on
Tradition Chinese Medicine,” IFMBE Proc., vol. 1, pp. 571 –573, Apr. 2008. [PDF].
Available: http://www.hljbme.cn/editor/UploadFile/T18S000005.PDF. [Accessed 15
Oct. 2012]
[6] Texas Instrument. “EZ430-Chronos”. Wkipedia. [Online]. Available:
http://processors.wiki.ti.com/index.php/EZ430-Chronos. [Accessed: Dec. 6, 2012].
[7] 1st Initial. World Health Organization, “Health care technology diffusion: case
medical devices,” Technology Diffusion, vol., pp. 10-12, 24 Jan. 2012. [PDF]. Available:
http://www.who.int/medical_devices/technology_diffusion_24Jan12.pdf. [Accessed
16 Nov. 2012]
[8] C. Leong et al., “Development of Chinese Medicine in Hong Kong”, Hong Kong
Ideas Centre, Hong Kong, Rep., Mar.2010. [PDF]. Available:
http://www.ideascentre.hk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/development-
of-chinese-medicine-background-report1.pdf. [Accessed 15 Oct. 2012]
[9] “Element 14| Electronic Components Distributor” Internet:
http://hk.element14.com/, [Accessed Dec. 7, 2012].
[10] “Stk Shop Homepage” Internet: http://www.stkshop.com/, [Accessed Dec. 7,
2012].
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11. Appendices
11.1 The 13 Chinese Pulse Waveforms and Their Description
11.2 Questionnaire Designed for Needs Analysis
11.3 Results of the Questionnaire
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11.2 Questionnaire Designed for Needs Analysis
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11.3 Results of the Questionnaire
1. Would you see a doctor if you find yourself ill?
□ Yes □ No
2. Do you have regular body checkups?
□ Yes □ No
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7. Have you ever buy any healthcare products for yourself, your family members,
friends or colleagues?
□ Yes □ No
(If the answer is “Yes”, please jump to question 9.)
8. What prevents you from buying any of such health products?
□ not necessary □ too expensive □ products too complicated to use
□ not portable □ others ____________
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9. How much would you prefer to pay for a device that helps the monitoring of daily
health signals?
□ $500
10. Which of the following ways are more effective in helping us to stay away fromdiseases? Please rank the following (4: most effective; 1: least effective)
□ Health care products □ Nutrition supplement □ Diets □ Exercise
Items to choose from Average scores
Nutrition supplement 0.2
Health care products 2.8
Diets 3.2
Exercise 3.8
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