Staff Publications - Professional Service Units

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    Item type: Item , Access status: Open Access ,
    Design, development, and evaluation of a contactless respiration rate measurement device utilizing a self-heating thermistor
    (MDPI, 2025-06-01) Saatchi, Reza; Holloway, Alan; Travis, Johnathan; Elphick, Heather; Daw, William; Kingshott, Ruth N.; Hughes, Ben; Burke, Derek; Jones, Anthony; Evans, Robert L.
    The respiration rate (RR) is an important vital sign for early detection of health deterioration in critically unwell patients. Its current measurement has limitations, relying on visual counting of chest movements. The design of a new RR measurement device utilizing a self-heating thermistor is described. The thermistor is integrated into a hand-held air chamber with a funnel attachment to sensitively detect respiratory airflow. The exhaled respiratory airflow reduces the temperature of the thermistor that is kept at a preset temperature, and its temperature recovers during inhalation. A microcontroller provides signal processing, while its display screen shows the respiratory signal and RR. The device was evaluated on 27 healthy adult volunteers, with a mean age of 32.8 years (standard deviation of 8.6 years). The RR measurements from the device were compared with the visual counting of chest movements, and the contact method of inductance plethysmography that was implemented using a commercial device (SOMNOtouch™ RESP). Statistical analysis, e.g., correlations were performed. The RR measurements from the new device and SOMNOtouch™ RESP, averaged across the 27 participants, were 14.6 breaths per minute (bpm) and 14.0 bpm, respectively. The device has a robust operation, is easy to use, and provides an objective measure of the RR in a noncontact manner.
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    Item type: Item , Access status: Open Access ,
    From scientist to academic developer: A story
    (Taylor and Francis, 2023-01-31) Bailey, Tracey
    When I started in Higher Education [HE] as a Lecturer in Biomedicine in 2002, I thought a good teacher was someone who could present their subject in an interesting manner in a PowerPoint presentation for an hour. My approach to assessment was based on the academic essays and examinations I had struggled with as a student. Through the parallel processes of being a Course Director and taking a Postgraduate Certificate [PGCert] in HE, I realised that this approach was not only far from true, but the tip of a very complex iceberg. The way I thought about students, their development, their assessment, and the support they needed to reach their potential was transformed through an inspiring developer and conversations with my peers. Collectively, we were passionate about making a difference to students at our University, and although the size of the iceberg was daunting, we were determined to chip away at it and make a difference.