Project number
25056
Organization
Craig M. Berge Dean's Fund
Offering
ENGR498-F2024-S2025
Project Goal: A portable diagnostic system able to both estimate and directly measure potassium and phosphorus content of food and fluid will be designed and built. This system can save lives!
Project Background/Scope: Kidneys are vital organs involved in the balance of fluids and electrolytes (ions) in the body. On a daily basis, through consumption of food and liquids, as well as via internal metabolism, the body is subjected to a constant barrage of electrolytes including potassium, sodium, chloride, bicarbonate and phosphates. Of these potassium (K) and phosphates (PO4) have very narrow windows of appropriate levels in the blood. Low potassium levels lead to significant muscle and cardiac dysfunction, where high levels of potassium induce significant heart rhythm abnormalities and frankly can kill you! Similarly, low phosphate levels can lead to significant muscle and respiratory dysfunction, whereas elevated levels can lead to vascular calcification and stroke. For patients with Kidney disease and compromised Kidney function determining the intake of potassium and phosphates is vital. Sadly, today this is only guessed at by understanding food content from charts and other references. A means of rapidly and accurately estimating potassium and phosphate content from food and fluid, as well as a device to rapidly directly measure potassium and phosphate will be of great value for chronic kidney disease patients enhancing quality of life and ensuring their safety!
Important Facts: Chronic kidney disease or CKD, causes more deaths than breast cancer or prostate cancer in the U.S. It is the under-recognized public health crisis. Kidney disease affects an estimated 37 million people in the U.S. (15% of the adult population; more than 1 in 7 adults). Approximately 90% of those with kidney disease don't know they have it! 1 in 3 adults in the U.S. (approximately 80 million) is at risk for kidney disease. Kidney disease is more common in women (14%) than men (12%). But for every 2 women who develop end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), 3 men's kidneys fail. Kidney disease is a leading cause of death in the U.S. and sadly is on the rise. A healthy adult should aim to consume 3,500–4,700 mg or potassium daily from foods. People with moderate to severe chronic kidney disease, defined as kidney function (i.e., glomerular filtration rate, or "GFR") below 45 mL/min (normal is 100 to 120 mL/min), should eat less than 3000 mg of potassium per day. A healthy adult can safely consume up to 4,000 mg/day of phosphorus though practically should aim to consume between 800 mg and 1,200 mg of phosphorus daily. People with moderate to severe chronic kidney disease should consume < 800 mg of phosphorus per day.
Requirements: 1. Develop a system to capture images of common food and fluid and estimate both Potassium and Phosphate content based on food volume or weight. 2. Develop a lookup table - i.e. a smart evolving reference engine of potassium and phosphate content based on active learning from the web. 3. In parallel design and build a probe system that can be directly placed into food or fluid to measure potassium and phosphate content (in mg. or meq/unit weight). 4. Develop a graphic user interface to have easy readout of both estimated K and PO4 content as well as measured content. Will also keep a log of total K and PO4 intake per day and have readout. 5. Will be able to telemeter info to health providers.
Project Background/Scope: Kidneys are vital organs involved in the balance of fluids and electrolytes (ions) in the body. On a daily basis, through consumption of food and liquids, as well as via internal metabolism, the body is subjected to a constant barrage of electrolytes including potassium, sodium, chloride, bicarbonate and phosphates. Of these potassium (K) and phosphates (PO4) have very narrow windows of appropriate levels in the blood. Low potassium levels lead to significant muscle and cardiac dysfunction, where high levels of potassium induce significant heart rhythm abnormalities and frankly can kill you! Similarly, low phosphate levels can lead to significant muscle and respiratory dysfunction, whereas elevated levels can lead to vascular calcification and stroke. For patients with Kidney disease and compromised Kidney function determining the intake of potassium and phosphates is vital. Sadly, today this is only guessed at by understanding food content from charts and other references. A means of rapidly and accurately estimating potassium and phosphate content from food and fluid, as well as a device to rapidly directly measure potassium and phosphate will be of great value for chronic kidney disease patients enhancing quality of life and ensuring their safety!
Important Facts: Chronic kidney disease or CKD, causes more deaths than breast cancer or prostate cancer in the U.S. It is the under-recognized public health crisis. Kidney disease affects an estimated 37 million people in the U.S. (15% of the adult population; more than 1 in 7 adults). Approximately 90% of those with kidney disease don't know they have it! 1 in 3 adults in the U.S. (approximately 80 million) is at risk for kidney disease. Kidney disease is more common in women (14%) than men (12%). But for every 2 women who develop end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), 3 men's kidneys fail. Kidney disease is a leading cause of death in the U.S. and sadly is on the rise. A healthy adult should aim to consume 3,500–4,700 mg or potassium daily from foods. People with moderate to severe chronic kidney disease, defined as kidney function (i.e., glomerular filtration rate, or "GFR") below 45 mL/min (normal is 100 to 120 mL/min), should eat less than 3000 mg of potassium per day. A healthy adult can safely consume up to 4,000 mg/day of phosphorus though practically should aim to consume between 800 mg and 1,200 mg of phosphorus daily. People with moderate to severe chronic kidney disease should consume < 800 mg of phosphorus per day.
Requirements: 1. Develop a system to capture images of common food and fluid and estimate both Potassium and Phosphate content based on food volume or weight. 2. Develop a lookup table - i.e. a smart evolving reference engine of potassium and phosphate content based on active learning from the web. 3. In parallel design and build a probe system that can be directly placed into food or fluid to measure potassium and phosphate content (in mg. or meq/unit weight). 4. Develop a graphic user interface to have easy readout of both estimated K and PO4 content as well as measured content. Will also keep a log of total K and PO4 intake per day and have readout. 5. Will be able to telemeter info to health providers.