Project description and overview:

This REMi – Sleep Secure project will deliver revolutionary technology to directly improve the lives of some of the most vulnerable in our community – older and aged Australians. The patented REMi technology will be fast-tracked for commercial manufacturing in Australia.

The REMi product includes stretchable, soft sensors embedded into a medical-grade mattress protector which will non-invasively and unobtrusively collect data. The sensor data, as electronic signals, are transferred by a miniaturised processor to the cloud for real-time data analytics. The first REMi product will target aged care providers, to provide real-time measurement of three critical biometric parameters of a resident in a bed:

• Presence
• Position
• Posture

The REMi technology would provide a constant monitoring and alert system across all beds at all times, delivering a safety net to the Care sector, so no matter where the Carer’s attention may be turned, they will have peace of mind that REMi will alert them if they need to intervene with a Resident in their care.

The data analysis software will also be fully debugged and certified during this phase, and the consortium will explore opportunities to also reliably extract key biometric data (eg breathing patterns and heart rate) from the sensor data.

A prototype has been developed to TRL 6, through a research collaboration by the REMi consortium: technology innovator Sleeptite, mattress manufacturer Sleepeezee, and the RMIT Centre for Functional Materials/Microsystems. Foam manufacturer, Joyce joins the project, to provide specialist support. This project will progress the REMi technology to TRL 9, a commercial first-generation product.

The successful commercialisation of the REMi product will deliver real and enduring value to the aged care sector and ageing community in Australia. This product is innovative, virtually undetectable to the user and will offer significant benefits to the aged care facility operator and product user.

The REMi technology program delivers a world-leading technological advancement in monitoring aged Australian residents whether they are living in a Residential Aged Care Facility or using a Home Care package.