1 July 2016
Wearable technology, currently the preserve of the fitness and sports, is moving rapidly into the realm of medical devices. An article released in JAMA this week explored the trend in more depth.
Most of the current development seems be to focused on glucose monitoring applications, with wireless patches coming out of GE and Google finally confirming it is working on contact lenses that will measure the amount of glucose in tears.
The benefits of these devices are obvious. The reduction of stress for the patient based on the non-invasive nature of the technology, added to the ability to transmit results seamlessly to an associated software program allowing for real-time monitoring and management, can only improve healthcare outcomes.
Apart from the ongoing monitoring and early detection uses however an exciting extension of the detection devices would be the ability to couple them with minimally invasive medical administration. For example researchers at Seoul National University in Korea are developing a Band-Aid-size device that uses tiny biosensors to monitor the glucose in sweat through an adhesive patch and transmit the results to a software application. Simultaneously they investigated whether metformin-loaded microneedles on their sweat-sensing patch could effectively deliver the drug to mice genetically engineered to have a diabetes-like condition.
While blood glucose devices are leading the pack, uses for on-body monitoring are multiple. At UCSD, they are looking into the development of sensors that might detect dehydration, nutritional deficiencies, and other factors that can be “precursors for falls that come from frailty, balance problems, poor muscular function, and many other problems of aging,” Mc10inc has pioneered the BioStampRC – a smart sensor to be used for research purposes. Gait analysis wearable technology for patients with MS that may improve early intervention in the disease. The list goes on.
There are still challenges ahead before the technology can become mainstream, there is no doubt that wearable technology is the next big wave in healthcare.
The Future of Disease Monitoring: Wearable Biosensors, Social Media, and Smartphone Applications
Products to watch
MC10inc: BioStampRC
Google's Tears monitor
Source Articles
JAMA: Wearable Biosensors Studied for Clinical Monitoring and Treatment
FierceHealthcare.com: Wearables continue push into med device territory
Wearable technology, currently the preserve of the fitness and sports, is moving rapidly into the realm of medical devices. An article released in JAMA this week explored the trend in more depth.
Most of the current development seems be to focused on glucose monitoring applications, with wireless patches coming out of GE and Google finally confirming it is working on contact lenses that will measure the amount of glucose in tears.
The benefits of these devices are obvious. The reduction of stress for the patient based on the non-invasive nature of the technology, added to the ability to transmit results seamlessly to an associated software program allowing for real-time monitoring and management, can only improve healthcare outcomes.
Apart from the ongoing monitoring and early detection uses however an exciting extension of the detection devices would be the ability to couple them with minimally invasive medical administration. For example researchers at Seoul National University in Korea are developing a Band-Aid-size device that uses tiny biosensors to monitor the glucose in sweat through an adhesive patch and transmit the results to a software application. Simultaneously they investigated whether metformin-loaded microneedles on their sweat-sensing patch could effectively deliver the drug to mice genetically engineered to have a diabetes-like condition.
While blood glucose devices are leading the pack, uses for on-body monitoring are multiple. At UCSD, they are looking into the development of sensors that might detect dehydration, nutritional deficiencies, and other factors that can be “precursors for falls that come from frailty, balance problems, poor muscular function, and many other problems of aging,” Mc10inc has pioneered the BioStampRC – a smart sensor to be used for research purposes. Gait analysis wearable technology for patients with MS that may improve early intervention in the disease. The list goes on.
There are still challenges ahead before the technology can become mainstream, there is no doubt that wearable technology is the next big wave in healthcare.
The Future of Disease Monitoring: Wearable Biosensors, Social Media, and Smartphone Applications
Products to watch
MC10inc: BioStampRC
Google's Tears monitor
Source Articles
JAMA: Wearable Biosensors Studied for Clinical Monitoring and Treatment
FierceHealthcare.com: Wearables continue push into med device territory
Compiled by Linda Ravenhill, 1 July 2016
