POSTER PRESENTATION ABSTRACTS
Please note: All posters will be displayed in
Salons 10-12.
THURSDAY, 5:30-6:15 PM
Narayanaswami R, Thurston R.
Development of a wearable sternal skin conductance device
for hot flash monitoring.
Metis Design Corporation Ranga@metisdesign.com
The majority of American women transitioning through
the menopause will experience hot flashes. However, safe and effective
treatments for hot flashes are currently lacking. Given the prevalence
of hot flashes and their interference in women's life, hot flashes are
a leading cause of treatment-seeking among menopausal women. The most
effective treatment of hot flashes is hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
However, recent findings from the Women's Health Initiative and other
trials indicate increased cardiovascular and cancer risk associated
with HRT. Thus, there is a pressing need for safe and effective treatments
for hot flashes. Investigation of new treatments for hot flashes has
been limited by the measurement of hot flashes. Current gold standard
physiologic measures of hot flashes have key limitations, including
electrode design, monitor size, and data storage capabilities that result
in poor user interface, discomfort, interference in activities and sleep,
and short monitoring durations. In this paper we discuss the development
and evaluation of an improved ambulatory sternal skin conductance monitoring
device that is highly wearable and unobtrusive, has increased data storage,
and has a simplified user interface. This device utilizes novel electrodes,
designed with the capability to be easily detached and reattached by
the user. The device includes a wearable, sensor module that processes
the sternal skin conductance signal. Data is stored on a flash card
and signal processing done to detect criterion skin conductance changes.
The validation of the measurement device in a laboratory and ambulatory
setting relative to the existing gold standard physiological measurement
device for hot flashes will also be discussed. This validation includes
establishing criterion skin conductance changes and the laboratory sensitivity
and specificity of device. The development of a valid, unobtrusive hot
flash measurement device suitable for long-term monitoring can serve
as a tool for the accurate measurement of hot flashes. This device can
thereby aid in the subsequent development of effective treatments for
hot flashes to improve the quality of life of the majority of women.
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