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M E D - T E C HQ U I C K G U I D E :
6 W E A R A B L E S
O N T H EM A R K E T
T O D A Y
A P R E S E N T A T I O N B Y S O N AC H A N D R A
‘We think technologyshould work for you —to be there when youneed it and get out ofyour way when you
don’t.’
Google Glass missionstatement, 2012
Over the last decade, we’ve witnessed technology transform thehealthcare industry. From finding better ways to deliver patient careto developing drugs and devices to treat and manage conditions,
technology continues to improve health on a global scale.
One avenue in particular has seen tremendous growth: digitalwearables. First made popular by fitness companies, products like the
Fitbit have conventionalized the practice of wearing devices.
Wearable technology consists of a sensor or chip that sits on or insideour bodies and offers biometric data. Often times, these devices areconnected to an app that helps users track and analyze the collected
information.
What is Wearable Technology?
While creating devices for the healthcare industry requires additionalregulatory conditions, the market continues to expand. Here’s a look at
a few of the current devices on the market today.
Wearable Technology in the Health Care Industry
In 2014, Google partnered with healthcare specialist Novartis to designan innovative contact lenses that monitors glucose levels by analyzingtears. The lenses feature glittersized chips and sensors to track levels
for patients suffering from diabetes.
Google Smart Contact Lens
Tech company Chaotic Moon has developed a temporary electronictattoo, composed of conductive paint that sits on top of a user’s skin.This biosensor has the ability to ‘collect, store, and send’ biometricdata to monitor an individual's vitals at all time. While the tattoo’s
audience may be smallthe design hits at a consumer sweetspot. Theprofile is slimmer than a Fitbitlike bracelet, yet not as intrusive as a
device embedded under one’s skin.
Tech Tattoos
Photo Credit: Chaotic Moon
By clipping this wearable onto a hospital patient, nurses are able totrack the frequency of how often they turn their patients. This can becritical in the development of ulcers, a common condition that occurswhen patients spend too much time lying in one position. The data issent wirelessly to monitoring systems and can send professionals
alerts when a patient needs to be shifted.
Leaf Healthcare Ulcer Sensor
Photo Credit: LeafHealthcare.com
HealthPatch MD offers a revolutionary product to monitor the levels ofa patient, making the device a critical asset for the future of remotehealth care. The setup is simplea reusable sensor and a disposablepatch work together to measure a patient’s heart and respiratory rate,
skin temperature, activity detection, and body posture.
HealthPatch MD
Photo Credit: Vitalconnect.com
How can a pill monitor the health of a patient? It can’tunless it’sembedded with a tiny sensor. Meet the Helius, a pioneer in the world of
federallyregulated devices. The pill works in tandem with a patchworn on the patient’s torso. It’s the first of its kind to measure andshare patient information, including vitals and medication taking.
Helius by Proteus Digital Health
Photo Credit: Proteus.com
One day, technology will be able to provide an automated diagnosis ofmedical conditions. For now, the Vitaliti offers a close alternative. The
wearable device and base can diagnose up to sixteen medicalconditions with a single sample of saliva. And the results are completedin a fraction of the time it takes for standard analysis. The device is
set to be released in 2017 and stands to revolutionize global healthcarein a big way.
Vitaliti by Cloud DX
Photo Credit: Clouddx.com
It’s predicted that over the next few years the market for biowearables in thehealthcare industry will explode. We’ll be able to treat patients more effectively.We’ll be able to monitor conditions more closely. And with the right mindset, we’ll
be able to close the global gaps in healthcare for good.
Looking ahead
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