Developing A Smart Device to Improve CPR Outcomes

Overview

There are around 20,000 cardiac arrests in Australia each year. The chance of survival with cardiac arrest is currently very low and is dependent on the quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) received during cardiac arrest. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) sensors can non-invasively measure cerebral blood oxygenation and would be ideal for assessing the quality of CPR in a person in cardiac arrest. This project aims to develop and improve flexible near-infrared sensors for use in healthy volunteers and patients in future trials. This project is supported by external funding through The Prince Charles Hospital.

Research engagement

In this project, the student will develop a sensor for NIRS readings using flexible technology. The student will work on designing and fabricating flexible sensors and programming a microcontroller-based interrogator unit to take readings from the sensor.  The student will then assist in tests where the developed sensor and interrogator will be validated against established oxygen sensors in healthy volunteers in our lab.

Research activities

PCB design, PCB manufacture, electronic engineering, microcontroller programming, human trials

Research skills

The student will gain new understanding of circuit board design and manufacture, particularly flexible circuits. The student will learn more about cardiac physiology and biology. The student will enhance their physics and engineering knowledge. The student will get plenty of hands-on laboratory experience in a working biomedical engineering laboratory and will also get to be involved in small pilot trials on healthy volunteers.

Outcomes

This project will result in a new biomedical device for personalised CPR feedback that is ready to test in healthy humans.

Skills and experience

The ideal candidate will have a background in Mechatronics, Electrical or Mechanical Engineering, with experience in microcontrollers (Arduino), analogue circuits and PCB design. The candidate will need to be highly practically competent (hands-on) and will benefit from having experience in benchtop testing. The candidate should have a strong work ethic and integrate well into a team environment, but be self-motivated to complete tasks.

Start date

2 November, 2026

End date

19 February, 2027

Location

GP- O222 ACE LAB

Keywords

• biomedical engineering
• wearable techonlogy
• circuit design
• cardiac arrest
• electrical engineering
• sensors and control

Contact

• Andrew Stephens

82335

andrew.f.stephens@qut.edu.au