Category: Sensors
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Future hearable sensors could track physical, emotional state
Apple has filed patent applications describing wireless earbuds that monitor health while a wearer talks on the phone or listens to music. This has obvious exercise-related implications, but could potentially track the physiological impact of one’s emotional state while making calls, as a mobile mental health tool. Sensors included in the patent include EKG, ICG,…
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Soft, flexible “skin-like” electrodes could improve brain interfaces
Stanford professor Zhenan Bao‘s latest flexible electronic initiative is the development of a plastic electrode that stretches like rubber but carries electricity like wires. This could be improve implanted brain interfaces which require soft and highly sensitive materials. In a recent paper, Bao’s team describes the chemical modification of brittle plastic to make it highly bendable, while…
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Thin, flexible, insulated sensor could monitor the heart for 70 years
Northwestern’s John Rogers has developed a sensor that can monitor electrical activity irregularities in the heart for 70 years. The sensor is much safer and more refined than current technology, which degrades easily, and can harm patients. An array of 396 voltage sensors are set in a very thin, multi-layer, flexible substrate, meant to attach to…
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Sensors inform skilled nursing care
IBM has partnered with Avamere skilled nursing facilities to sudy the use of cognitive computing to improve caregiver knowledge and actions. By embedding sensors that gather physical and environmental data in senior living facilities, Avamere hopes to reduce hospital admission rates. Patient movement, air quality, gait analysis and other fall risk factors, personal hygiene, sleeping…
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Sensor detects HIV in first week of infection
Spanish National Research Council researchers have developed a biosensor that detects the p24 antigen protein at concentrations 100,000 times lower than in current techniques. This has enabled the creation of a test that can detect HIV in the blood within one week of infection. It takes 5 hours, offering results the same day. The inexpensive sensor combines…
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Sensor, data, and AI-driven primary care
Forward has brought advanced technology to well-care. Patient/Members are integrated into the practice with a baseline screening via body scans, blood and genetic tests. They are then given consumer and medical wearables, which work with proprietary algorithms, for continuous monitoring (and access to data), personalized treatment, and emergency alerts. Physical exam rooms display all of the data…
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Ultra-flexible transistor for discreet, continuous health monitoring
Stanford professor Zhenan Bao‘s latest bioelectronic innovation has disrupted wearable technology as we know it. The ultra-flexible transistor can be stretched to twice its length, without losing conductivity. Conductors are confined inside an extremely thin, flexible polymer material, ideal for adhesive or tiny wearables. Digital health applications are unlimited — providing discreet, continuous, and…
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Sensor dramatically improves MRI resolution
ETH professor Klaas Prussmann has developed technology to improve MRI accuracy by detecting tiny changes in magnetic fields. An MRI’s strong magnetic field, which makes it difficult for sensors to detect up small details. Prussmann’s integrated digital radio receiver addresses this by decreasing background noise significantly. In a recent paper, he said: “In addition to…
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Prosthesis-integrated sensor detects infections early
Infections in prostheses, for amputees, and in joint replacements, are common, often found too late, and can necessitate additional surgeries or worse complications. Current detection methods include MRI, CT, and X-ray. Ken Loh and UCSD colleagues have developed an infection detecting prosthesis coating + imaging technique that could be used at home or in a…
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Tiny wearable sensor measures blood flow
Kyocera has developed a tiny optical sensor to measure blood flow volume in subcutaneous tissue, meant to be integrated into a phone or wearable. Potential applications include monitoring stress and preventing dehydration, heat stroke, and altitude sickness. The device will be used in/on an ear, finger or forehead, to measure the velocity-driven frequency of reflected…
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Cabin sensors, wearables, smart pills to monitor air passenger health
British Airlines has filed a patent application for a system that would monitor when a passenger is awake, asleep, hungry, nervous, hot, cold or uncomfortable. The “system and method for controlling the travel environment for a passenger” encompasses motion-sensing sleep monitors, wearables that track eye movement, heart rate, and temperature, and ingestible health-tracking pills. The…
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Sensor sock detects diabetic inflammation, sends alerts
Siren Care‘s real-time temperature sensing smart sock is meant to detect foot inflammation in diabetics. The goal is early notification to prevent (difficult to heal) sores and other symptoms of the disease, which can lead to extreme complications. Data is stored in the fabric and in the cloud. An app sends alerts when a temperature event…