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Applied Technologies

Technology Transfer Hub

Our portfolio of technologies designed to help struggling children.

Through research and innovation, we at the Child Mind Institute seek to change the way the world understands and treats children struggling with mental health and learning disorders. We work with clinicians and patients who inspire the development of our technologies and the directions of our research to address real-world, clinical challenges for child development and mental health. We are looking to start a dialogue and seek investor support to continue and expand this important work.

Technology Development Vision

A world where every child has access to mental health care that is efficient, effective, and personalized.

Technology Development Mission

Timely, accurate diagnoses and efficient interventions are central to our vision. Our mission is to accelerate the pace of scientific innovation and discovery in children’s mental health and learning. We are committed to democratizing inquiry by making tools and data freely available to the global scientific community. This helps to foster collaborations that can test, improve upon, and adopt innovative open solutions for the benefit of every child.

Guiding Scientific Principles

Integrative Multidisciplinary Research

Neuropsychiatry remains a pioneering frontier in modern medicine. In part, this is due to the realities that the brain is the most complex organ in the human body and no single measure or method can capture the complexities of its development and maturation – let alone the impact of mental health and learning disorders. As such, our scientific team draws upon a range of disciplines, models, and methods in its efforts to chart brain development and identify clinically useful markers of behavior and brain function that are objective, reproducible, and widely accessible. To maximize our opportunities for collaboration and the exchange of ideas, we house our laboratories, scientists, and clinicians in a shared setting.

New Technologies

Standard methods for assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health disorders are antiquated, lack quantitative rigor and reproducibility, and are administered within an unnatural clinical setting, all of which can result in an inaccurate view of a child’s condition. Therefore, a core component of our mission is to build, test, and deploy new technologies (such as sensors, wearable devices, mobile apps, and analytical tools) that can acquire objective, quantitative measures related to mental health in any setting, anywhere in the world.

Scalable Solutions

Recent decades have witnessed the development of myriad potentially viable solutions for diagnosing, monitoring and treating mental health and learning disorders. Unfortunately, even the most promising among them face practical and logistical challenges that will limit their accessibility and scalability if not addressed. Our team is dedicated to the pursuit of scalable solutions that leverage innovative models, methods and technologies to maximize their utility for a global audience so that no child is left behind, regardless of who or where they are.

Open Science

Research silo cultures stand in the way of scientific progress in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health and learning disorders. As a recognized leader in open science, the Child Mind Institute is committed to democratizing inquiry by making analysis tools and scientific data freely available to the global scientific community. This ensures that collaboration is widespread, producing innovative solutions that can be tested, improved, and adopted widely for the acceleration of scientific progress.

Our Research Teams

MATTER Lab

The MATTER Lab (Mind-Assisting Technologies for Therapy, Education, and Research) has a mission to advance our understanding and care of mental health by building, improving, and deploying technologies for use in therapy, education, and research.

Autism Center

The Autism Center studies differences in brain connectivity that emerge in children with autism, with the intention of establishing reliable and objective biological markers. Consistent with the open science philosophy of the Child Mind Institute, the Center houses the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange, which represents the largest open repository for autism brain imaging data in the world.

Center for the Developing Brain

The Center for the Developing Brain leads a multidisciplinary effort to redefine diagnosis based on underlying neurobiology, leading to the development of better diagnostic tools. CDB houses the International Neuroimaging Data-sharing Initiative (INDI), which has served as a flagship for open science in the brain imaging community.

Computational Neuroimaging Laboratory

The Computational Neuroimaging Laboratory is accelerating the pace of scientific discovery through innovation in the analysis methods employed by scientists, building the necessary infrastructure by providing high quality, scalable and reproducible turnkey solutions to computational challenges in image processing and analysis.

Healthy Brain Network

The Healthy Brain Network (HBN) research study is collecting data from 10,000 New York City area youths (ages 5-21) including psychiatric, behavioral, cognitive, and lifestyle (e.g., fitness, diet) phenotypes, as well as multimodal brain imaging, electroencephalography, digital voice and video recordings, genetics, and actigraphy. More than 150 institutions around the world are actively using the HBN Biobank.

Forms and Policies

DHHS-Negotiated Facilities & Administrative (F&A) Costs Rate

On-Site

  • 10/1/2020 – 9/30/2021 40.3% (Final)
  • 10/1/2021 – 9/30/2024 40.3% (Provisional)

Base
Total direct costs excluding capital expenditures (building, individual items of equipment; alterations and renovations), and that portion of each subaward in excess of $25,000.

Fringe Benefits Rate

  • Effective 10/1/2022 – 12/31/2023
    • Executive 18.7%
    • Management 23.7%
    • Staff 31.9%
    • Clinicians 25.6%

Our Technology Portfolio

Gesture Recognition Wearable Device

Gesture Recognition Wearable Device

Status and Patent. We have created a prototype for a wrist-worn device that can monitor and record gestures and motions such as face-touching and body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs) while also providing real-time (haptic) feedback (on the wrist) to the individual to help stop these behaviors. The device is the subject of U.S. Patent Nos. 10,119,807 and 10,520,297.

Description and Usage. This device can monitor face touching and BFRBs, including pulling out hair, skin picking, as well less severe but damaging behaviors such as nail biting, thumb sucking, and nose picking. Immediate, real-time feedback can help people stop touching their face, which has the potential to save lives in situations such as the current pandemic, and to help people reduce BFRBs.

Results and Future. The performance characteristics in healthy volunteers were studied and published (Son JJ et al., “Thermal Sensors Improve Wrist-Worn Position Tracking,” Nature Digital Medicine (2019) 2:15). We are preparing to conduct additional trials to demonstrate the device’s effectiveness at reducing face-touching. The device is currently a prototype, but designed for manufacturing. We are currently seeking opportunities to commercialize for widespread use.

Position Tracking Wearable Device

Position Tracking Wearable Device

Status and Patent. Our position tracking wearable prototype is the subject of U.S. Patent Nos. 10,119,807 and 10,520,297.

Description and Usage. The position tracking wearable device uses thermal sensors to track its position relative to the body. This innovative standalone approach to position tracking without cameras has the potential to increase the accuracy of measuring movement in real time. The device is also lightweight, non-intrusive and self-contained, making it ideal for integrating into augmented or virtual reality systems. See the description of our gesture recognition wearable device, which also serves to track position of the hand with respect to the head and torso, but more specifically for monitoring and feedback to reduce face touching and body-focused repetitive behaviors.

Results and Future. This wearable device is currently a prototype. We are currently seeking opportunities to commercialize for widespread use in position tracking for console game playing, VR, AR, etc.

Drug Overdose Detector

Drug Overdose Detector

Status and Patent. Our drug overdose detector is a prototype for a wearable device.

Description and Usage. This device is the first in a series of projects exploring wearable device solutions to drug overdose and drug addiction.The primary motivation for building this prototype was to start a discussion with the National Institute on Drug Abuse on potential opportunities to detect opiate overdose with inexpensive devices built from off-the-shelf components. Depressed respiration is the best way to detect opiate overdose and the only approved indicator for the administration of Narcan (Naloxone). The device contains an accelerometer, a PPG optical heart rate sensor and a thermopile contactless thermometer to detect skin temperature. The device also contains an extremely loud buzzer and is connected to a smartphone app which is designed to alert an emergency response team (this feature is currently a proof-of-concept). The general idea is that the device uses sensor data to detect a possible drug overdose event. The device then activates its buzzer. If the user does not deactivate the buzzer after an allotted period of time it is assumed that an overdose is taking place and the device alerts emergency responders through the connected phone app.

Results and Future. We are working on similar, more practical devices and welcome opportunities for collaboration on this project.

Respirometer

Respirometer

Status and Patent. Our respirometer is the subject of subject of pending U.S. Patent Application No. 16/816,220.

Description and Usage. The device’s primary intended use is respiratory rate vital sign monitoring, although many other uses are possible. The device functions by gathering and analyzing time series data from a number of sensors, namely surface temperature (thermopile), air temperature, air pressure and air water content (humidity). The efficacy of the device is dependent on the presence of an exhalation vent in an oxygen mask, something that is universal to oxygen masks. The device sensors are placed directly over the vent, in a fashion that very clearly does not risk blocking the vent.

Results and Future. The device is capable of independently computing respiration rate from time series sensor data. Currently, this is accomplished with peak detection and relatively simple filtering, but this sort of data processing can be done many different ways. The device contains a Bluetooth radio, and can transmit raw sensor data to a computer or mobile device. Raw sensor data from the device could be incorporated into computer software to provide a great deal more information than simple respiration rate. Respiration strength, volume, acceleration and any abnormalities thereof can be computed. The device is attached to the oxygen mask with an adhesive-backed reclosable fastener (like velcro). In order to accommodate a variety of oxygen mask shapes, the sensors themselves are placed in an adjustable hinged arm attached to the main device body. Design of the device for placement inside the mask is possible, if integrated into the oxygen mask itself.

MindLogger Mobile Data Collection

MindLogger Mobile Data Collection

Status and Patent. MindLogger is an open source product.

Description and Usage. The MATTER Lab is developing MindLogger to make it easy for anyone to build activities to present, collect, and analyze information using mobile devices. Example activities include surveys, quizzes, digital diaries, cognitive tasks, and interventions. The three key innovations are: customizability of content, response options, and appearance; an extensive library of activities built using open standards (open, reusable parts defined by an open protocol); and distribution as a single app that appears differently to different user groups. This tool is more relevant than ever as healthcare evolves to incorporate more telehealth and remote options.

Results and Future. MindLogger is currently being used to gather survey data as part of the 10,000-person Healthy Brain Network research study. After this initial test, MindLogger will be used in research studies by our collaborators at the National Institute of Mental Health, MIT, the Université de Paris (CRI), ETH and Citizen Science Centre in Zurich, and elsewhere.

CrisisLogger Web-Based Data Collection

Status and Patent. CrisisLogger is an open source product.

Description and Usage. Developed in partnership with researchers at the National Institute of Mental Health, CRI Université de Paris, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and OpenHumans.org, CrisisLogger wants to hear about the emotions that people are experiencing during the COVID-19 Crisis. Through this online platform, users can share their struggles, fears, frustrations, hopes, and more — publicly or privately — through audio, video, or text messages. These messages are then converted into word clouds to capture the theme. Participants can decide whether or not they want to contribute their submissions for scientific research or keep them private. CrisisLogger also allows users to view the public submissions of others, which could help to offer support through shared experiences.

Results and Future. CrisisLogger is currently collecting data. We have recently added the capability to customize the site for different data collection efforts (different landing page content, different questionnaire) by simply adding a new subdomain (e.g., climate.crisislogger.org) and folder of alternate content.

Intraoral Respiration Monitor

Intraoral Respiration Monitor

Status and Patent. The monitor is a prototype and we are seeking patent protection. We are working on similar devices with broader consumer applications. Our monitor is the subject of U.S. Patent No. 10,758,156.

Description and Usage. This device measures the air pressure, humidity and skin temperature inside the user’s airway. It consists of a BME280 air pressure sensor + MLX90615 thermopile thermometer + miniature nRF51822-based activity tracker mounted on an ultra-thin custom dental retainer, and contains a 16Mhz ARM Cortex M0 microprocessor combined with a Bluetooth radio for wireless communication (Nordic nRF51822). We stream data to a Web Bluetooth-enabled web application. The streamed data is displayed graphically but can also be used to train and then apply data to a LSTM MLP neural network for the purpose of tracking respiration. The BME280 air pressure sensor is extremely sensitive and can acquire the respiration waveform regardless of whether users breathe through nose or mouth. The primary motivation for building this prototype was to start a discussion with the National Institute on Drug Abuse on potential opportunities to detect opiate overdose with a future, miniaturized version of such a device, or other form factor and placement. Depressed respiration is the best way to detect opiate overdose and the only approved indicator for the administration of Narcan (Naloxone). Full waveform respiration data is surprisingly difficult to obtain. Spirometers, chest-straps and pulse oximetry (including photoplethysmography) are relatively inaccurate – particularly when respiration becomes depressed.

Results and Future. We are seeking opportunities to commercialize for widespread use.

Phone-Based Face-Touching Deterrent

Phone-Based Face-Touching Deterrent

Status and Patent. “Face Guardian” is entirely open source. Development is ongoing and contributions are welcome.

Description and Usage. You use a phone’s compass and a magnet on your wrist to detect face touching, including audio and vibration alerts. Face touching is one of the primary ways people contract SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus responsible for COVID-19. People on average touch their faces 23 times an hour. It is a deeply ingrained unconscious behavior. Face Guardian is an attempt to solve this problem in a highly scalable fashion. All it requires is a smartphone and a magnet. Face Guardian’s target demographic is parents and children stuck at home during the coronavirus pandemic. Although this is meant to be a fun educational activity for parents and children, anyone can benefit from it.

Results and Future. You can get the Android app on Google Play or go to the mobile web app by visiting the project on matter.childmind.org. The primary focus of the MATTER Labs efforts is the Gesture Recognition Device.