Issue 1

Smart ageing for better health

In response to the challenges posed by Hong Kong’s ageing population, a wide spectrum of innovative technologies for elderly healthcare applications pioneered by our Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME) is transforming the lives of older adults.

Innovation

From portable aided inventions to smart systems that can support older adults and people with disabilities, BME has launched numerous projects for enhancing people’s quality of life. Here is a selection of featured technology highlights that have made a life-changing difference in terms of the quality of life:

A Fatigue-relieving Smart Shoe using a magnetorheological fluid (MRF) is under development for encouraging the elderly to do more walking exercises, and the iBalanx smart insole with an instant reminder is designed to improve balance and prevent falls by the elderly.

With the help of two rehabilitation inventions – Rehab Sleeve and the Mobile Exo-neuro-musculo-skeleton, stroke patients are able to improve their upper limb functioning in both clinical and home settings. The smart wheelchair system, iwheelchair, designed with an intelligent centralized operation platform can support wheelchair users by enhancing their independence and safety.

The various versions of the Smart Interactive Doll for doll therapy and the non-contact and non-invasive bed-leaving monitoring system – eNightLog system are developed for advancing the day and night care services in nursing care homes with dementia residents. “The eNightLog system can enhance the fall prevention system and promote the sleep quality of clients through remote monitoring technology and avoid frequently disturbing clients at night.” said Ms Mariam Lee, former service manager (nursing officer) of the Jockey Club Centre for Positive Ageing.

Service

To improve community lives for the benefit of Hong Kong, BME also brings research breakthroughs into real-world solutions. Since December 2017, we have been operating a 5-year community project entitled “Jockey Club Smart Ageing Hub” (“Project”) for the promotion of gerontechnology. By setting up an on-campus “Day Experience Centre” (“Centre”) with a collection of more than 1,000 gerontechnology products, we showcase such gerontechnology products and demonstrate their uses to the public. In addition, in partnership with six organizers from the elderly care sector, the Project team supports the “Real-life Hostels” (“Hostels”) by providing appropriate innovative technology solutions to elderly/ rehabilitation residential care homes for advancing the continuum care services in Hong Kong. The application of customized and integrated gerontechnology devices at the Hostels will provide the community with a sharing of successful experience and a collaboration model for the betterment of the local elderly care services.

Education

As a department with strong cross-border and cross-sectoral gerontechnology links and networks, BME has created a collaborative platform for nurturing our future generations. Diversified healthcare-related programmes and activities are offered to enhance our students' sense of civic responsibility and engagement. Our service-learning course not only enables students to gain the experience in serving the elderly and understanding their needs but also testing the developed inventions in a real elderly care home setting. To further promote the idea of smart ageing, a territory-wide annual Biomedical Engineering Innovation Competition was first launched in 2019, to allow youngsters to demonstrate their STEM talent by designing assistive devices for seniors.

Although the ageing population is becoming a social issue for Hong Kong, the team consisting of BME colleagues and students is embracing the opportunity to connect smart ageing stakeholders and to develop innovative technology for improving the quality of life of the elderly and in alleviating the stress of caregivers.

Innovation
	Fatigue-relieving Smart Shoe for encouraging the elderly to do more walking exercises.
	iBalanx smart insole for improvement of balance and fall prevention in elderly.
	BME has developed Rehab Sleeve for improving upper-limb functioning of stroke patients.
	BME has developed Mobile Exo-neuro-musculo-skeleton for self-help mobile rehabilitation for stroke patients.
	PolyU has developed integrated iWheelchair system for wheelchair users.
	BME has developed eNightLog system for caring for the elderly with dementia.
Service
	The Day Experience Centre of the Jockey Club Smart Ageing Hub in PolyU showcases a great variety of gerontechnology products.
	BME inventions developed by research teams and students are displayed at the Jockey Club Smart Ageing Hub.
	Smart Interactive Doll is a doll therapy tool for nursing care home residents with dementia.
Education
	The 1st territory-wide annual Biomedical Engineering Innovation Competition was first launched in 2019.