MedTech
Written by
Sandeep Ozarde
Written by
Sandeep Ozarde
MedTech
Leland C. Clark Jr. was an American biochemist born in Rochester, New York. He is most well known as the inventor of the Clark Electrode, a device used for measuring oxygen in the blood, water and other liquids. Clark is considered the "father of biosensors", and the modern-day glucose sensor, used daily by millions of diabetics is based on his research.
Continuous and real-time monitoring is critical for improving the management of patients with chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and neurological disorders. Chronic diseases, according to the World Health Organization, account for three-quarters (75%) of all deaths worldwide and impose significant economic costs. Wearable devices are those that are worn on the body or body implantable or on clothing. They are composed of two components: a target receptor and a transducer. A receptor recognises and responds to the target analyte. Biomedical sensors are used to monitor a multitude of physiological parameters, such as glucose levels, blood pressure and neural activity.
For the treatment of Parkinson's disease, wearable devices offer great potential for collecting extensive data sources that provide information on the diagnosis and effects of therapeutic interventions. The integration of wearable health monitors with smartphones offers a growing opportunity to remotely collect and store real-time health data. In particular, in the remote management of patients and healthcare delivery in the healthcare ecosystem, wearable technology and product enhancements have enabled providers to collect real-time data, improving accuracy and informed decision-making.
Wearables can improve patient outcomes by monitoring physical health and providing data to providers to which they might not otherwise have access. Most importantly, wearable devices can contribute to health equity by improving access to timely care and treatment regardless of race, socioeconomic or geographic location. The use of wearable devices to collect comprehensive physical and behavioural data from users can help identify people at risk, improve adherence to treatment regimens, and improve the overall patient experience.
Wearable device activity tracking capabilities provide healthcare consumers with a mechanism to improve their self-monitoring skills. Wearable medical devices enable personal health monitoring over extended periods of time.
These include monitoring physical activity and ambulatory monitoring of medically important data such as vital signs and electrocardiography. Most cancer treatments require occasional meetings between patients and their medical teams. Wearable medical devices provide accurate remote results, allowing researchers to tailor treatment to specific patient populations.
Using wearables means symptoms can be detected earlier, and patients can monitor their own health and receive data that helps doctors develop treatment and prevention plans. Notably, the use of wearable medical devices can also help reduce the need for doctor visits by allowing a greater degree of independence for participants. Additionally, the use of wearable medical devices and remote sample collection in clinical trials provides participants with a safer and more convenient experience and may encourage patient registration and participation in future studies. Wearable applications can directly impact clinical decision-making.
The value of wearables in oncology will grow by addressing these challenges and identifying specific clinical scenarios where wearables and remote monitoring improve patient-centered outcomes and are feasible for both healthcare professionals and patients. This upward trend in wearable fitness technology will influence the decision of insurance companies, medical professionals and companies to take advantage of wearable health monitoring devices. The development of wearable technology and the growing demand from consumers for monitoring their health has influenced the medical industry, including insurance companies, suppliers and technology companies, to develop more wearable devices such as Apple Watch, Fitbit, smartwatches and wearable monitors.
Fitbit's most advanced tracker, the Charge 4, comes equipped with a built-in GPS and a 24/7 heart rate monitor.
Amazon has tapped into the digital health space with its fitness tracker that features a long-lasting battery life (up to 40 days), built-in GPS, and 10 sport mode features.
This small and sleek fitness band monitors users' heart rates and includes tools such as all-day stress tracking, a relaxation breathing timer, and VO2 max readings.
This smartwatch equips users with more than 20 goal-based exercises, mental health tracking, movement reminders, and more.
This portable EKG monitor is FDA-cleared to detect atrial fibrillation (AF), bradycardia, and tachycardia. Users just place their fingers on the top two electrodes and touch the bottom electrode to their left ankle or leg and receive results within 30 seconds.
The handheld monitor can also be worn as a chest strap and be used either with or without a smartphone. It continuously records EKG for up to 15 minutes and can detect early signs of arrhythmia, heart pauses, AF, tachycardia, bradycardia, and premature atrial contractions (PACs).
This small ECG monitor is designed for in-clinic and remote patient monitoring (RPM) applications. It records data on heart rate, RR interval, and respiratory rate.
BPM Connect is an armband that measures a user's blood pressure and shows results immediately on the screen with colour-coded feedback. Users can connect their device with the company's companion Health Mate app, where they can then share blood pressure results with their doctor.
This Philips original biosensor lets patients and physicians monitor health data. It's a self-adhesive biosensor that measures heart rate, respiratory rate, skin temperature, body posture, fall detection, single-lead ECG, R-R interval (RR-I), and step count.
Driven by growing consumer demand for self-monitoring and vital sign tracking, wearable device usage has more than tripled in the past four years. The growing demand for wearables has created a booming market, and now insurers and companies are seeing the value of providing wearable medical technology to their consumers and employees. The demand for wearables is growing as people invest more and more in their health, and these devices have found their place in the healthcare industry as a tool to educate and empower people to make well-being a priority.
Fitness technologies can even send real-time information about a user's health to a doctor or other healthcare provider. Consumer medical wearables track users' physical activity using smart technology and/or GPS and measure important health data such as heart rate, breathing rate, blood oxygen saturation levels, and body position.
Current examples include using smartphones to collect instant environmental assessments (EMAs); wearable technology to passively collect objective measures of movement, physical activity, sleep, and physiological responses of participants; as well as smartphones and wearable devices with global positioning system (GPS) capabilities to collect accurate information about where visitors spend their time. For example, clothing integrated with wearable solutions such as commercial wearable sensors and devices in emergency medical services (EMS), emergency departments (ER) or intensive care units (ICUs) has made it easier to continuously monitor the risks they pose to patients' lives.
O-Bar Ochsner Health System O-Bar is physically located inside medical clinics, where staff electronically receive doctor's recommendations for digital medical intervention and personally assist the patient in choosing and purchasing connected wearable devices, initiating the application and onboarding applications and devices. In the Ochsner Health System, home blood pressure monitoring and health behaviour data from connected wearable devices, as well as health coaching and medication adjustments, combine to provide the healthcare provider with useful information about a patient's health status, contacts if the patient does not achieve the intended goals or simply continues to see if everything is in order. An optional wearable activity monitor was also recommended by Ochsner, but was not required as it was not a primary outcome but provided important information to the patient and clinician about health behaviour adjustments that affect the primary outcome.
New trends now include the ability to talk to a doctor or mental health professional from your wearable, monitor your mood, diet, medication, and more. We can even track how wearables and technology are helping improve compliance, patient treatment regimens and success rates. Wearable technology has become more mainstream in recent years, with devices like the Apple Watch and Fitbit gaining popularity among health-conscious consumers. As insurers and businesses begin to see the positive impact this technology has on consumer health and brand profitability, the future of these types of wearables looks promising.
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