Abstract: Heart failure (HF) is the leading cause of hospitalization among older adults. At least 25% of HF patients are readmitted within 30 days, and > 50% are readmitted within 12 months, at an average per-patient cost of $18,000. It is estimated that 9 out of 10 of these admissions are preventable. Excessive fluid intake is a major contributor to hypervolemia, and monitoring fluid intake is problematic for HF patients, their caregivers and clinicians. The only way to accurately monitor fluid intake is to measure and log beverage consumption with each drinking event. The smart health technology proposed here enables HF patients and clinicians to unobtrusively record and monitor fluid intake, enabling self-management. The Smart Cup combines sensor, wireless data handling, and analysis technologies enabling continuous, real-time monitoring of liquid intake.

A small start-up has formed around this technology, in order to advance its development through SBIR grants, and then angel investment. Please contact Alexey Melishchuk, Associate Director, OTC, am633@drexel.edu, for an introduction to the faculty team.