Université Laval

Purpose

Recent studies have shown that chronically ill older adults can use home monitoring systems specifically designed for their use so they can safely stay at home or in community-based care centers for an extended period of time. This has been achieved thanks to the development of modern communications technology and the wide deployment of various sensors. However, most of these sensors require a source of energy. Having a battery on every device is not only inconvenient and wasteful, but also detrimental to the environment. This project aims to achieve efficient energy harvesting from indoor lighting and the environmental heat via photovoltaic and thermoelectric effects. The power generated will be used to power medical sensors and devices which include wireless communication functions, in order to provide innovative living environments for older adults. Such self-powered sensor systems will operate continuously and sustainably without an external power supply, and enable personalized healthcare and telediagnosis. For example, some key physiological parameters, such as temperature, vital signs, body motion, and molecular biomarkers could be detected noninvasively and reported to caregiver automatically.