Wearable devices in healthcare have become increasingly popular in recent years. Due to advances in biosensor technology and accuracy, reduced battery size, and improved performance, wearable medical technology can give users accurate healthcare data, putting them in control of their healthcare.
Wearable health care technology is defined as health monitoring devices worn on the body such as the wrist to help track the wearer’s health data. These devices use biosensors to collect data from the patient, including heart rate, blood pressure, sleep habits, and activity.
It can also be used in the medical industry to monitor people and help with diagnosis, allowing them to improve their health and have more control over their lives. For example, several wearables have been created to recognize the symptoms of COVID-19 infection by measuring people’s vital signs.
Wearables’ healthcare abilities are likely to improve as technology progresses. A future vision for wearables was explored, including the potential use of on-teeth sensors, smart contact lenses, electronic epidermal tattoos, smart patches, and smart textiles. Wearable data may be incorporated into health systems and used to inform care plans.
In response to these considerations, in this article we start by providing an epistemic overview of the main functions of wearable technology for health: we discuss advancement, benefits, examples, and clinical trials.
Advances in wearable devices in healthcare
Continuous and immediate surveillance is required for improved care of patients with chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and neurological disorders. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), chronic diseases account for three-quarters (75%) of all deaths worldwide and impose significant economic costs. As a result, several tactics for monitoring and diagnosing such disorders are required, with HWDs serving as an effective one.
These HWDs give a better knowledge of the changes that occur in the human body, which can aid in disease prevention and treatment.
These HWDs help to measure various metrics and biopotentials. These biopotentials include the electrocardiogram (ECG), which measures heart performance, the electromyogram (EMG), which measures muscle activity in response to nerve stimulation, the electroencephalogram (EEG), which measures brain activity, and the electrooculogram (EOG), which records eye movements.
Some technology is shown here. Through this, you will know about the upcoming inventions and through these methods you will be able to improve your health.
- Skin-based wearable technology.
- Textile-based HWDs.
- E-skin or tattoo-based HWD
- Biofluidic-based high-power devices.
- Sweat-Based HWDs
- Tear-Based HWDs
Wearable devices in healthcare skills will continue to advance as technology progresses. A future vision for wearables has been suggested, which includes the potential use of on-teeth sensors, smart contact lenses, electronic epidermal tattoos, smart patches, and smart textiles. Wearable data may be incorporated into health systems and used to inform care plans by wearable devices in healthcare.
Benefits of wearable devices in healthcare
Wearable medical devices are becoming increasingly popular due to advances in sensor technology, which allow the size of sensors and batteries to be reduced. These gadgets serve multiple purposes, including accurate monitoring of activity levels, heart rate, overall health, and disease management. They also include features like medication reminders and storing important patient health information.
Fitness
Wearables often have features that encourage physical activity and overall wellness, such as step counters, sleep trackers, and workout reminders, which assist users in maintaining a healthy lifestyle and preventing lifestyle-related illnesses.
Continuous Monitoring
Wearable gadgets allow for continuous health monitoring, including real-time tracking of vital signs including heart rate, blood pressure, glucose levels, and oxygen saturation. This can be critical for controlling chronic diseases and recognizing early indicators of prospective health problems.
Early Diagnosis
Continuous data collecting aids in the diagnosis of problems, resulting in timely medical measures. Wearables, for example, can detect abnormal heartbeats or changes in glucose levels, allowing users to seek medical attention before their diseases deteriorate.
Individualized Healthcare
Wearable technology collects individualized health data, allowing healthcare providers to tailor treatment strategies to individual needs. This personalization can improve therapeutic efficacy and patient outcomes.
Examples of wearable devices in healthcare
Wearable healthcare technology includes devices that are worn on the body, usually on the wrist, to monitor various health parameters. These gadgets use biosensors to collect data on heart rate, blood pressure, sleep habits, and overall activity.
Smartwatches
The Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch track heart rate, ECG, blood oxygen levels, and physical activity. They also provide tools for detecting falls and monitoring sleep patterns.
Fitness trackers
Such as Fitbit and Garmin, measure steps, heart rate, calories burnt, sleep patterns, and other fitness information. They assist users in leading a healthy lifestyle and monitoring their everyday activities.
Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs)
Devices such as the Dexcom G6 and FreeStyle Libre monitor blood glucose levels in real-time, providing crucial data to help diabetics control their condition more efficiently.
Blood Pressure Monitors
Wearable blood pressure monitors, such as the Omron HeartGuide, enable users to regularly measure their blood pressure and track trends over time.
Oxygen Saturation Monitors
Devices such as the Wellue O2Ring and the Masimo MightySat measure blood oxygen levels, which is especially important for individuals with respiratory diseases such as COPD or sleep apnea.
Wearable EKG Monitors
Devices like the BioBeat BB-613 and QardioCore offer continuous ECG monitoring, which aids in the detection of heart conditions and monitoring of cardiac health.
Wearable Pain Management Devices
Devices such as the Quell Relief and Oska Pulse use electrical nerve stimulation or pulsed electromagnetic field therapy to treat chronic pain without the use of medications.
Wearable ECG monitors
such as the KardiaMobile and Zio Patch, enable continuous monitoring of heart rhythms, which aids in the detection of arrhythmias and other cardiac disorders.
Company of Wearable Devices in Healthcare
Many companies provide wearable devices in healthcare. Here are 5 companies that provide more services to the health system.
Apple
Product Line: Apple Watch.
The Apple Watch includes numerous health and fitness tracking functions, such as heart rate monitoring, ECG, blood oxygen level measuring, fall detection, and sleep tracking. The device effortlessly integrates into Apple’s ecosystem, offering consumers a full health management tool.
Fitbit is owned by Google
Product Line: Fitbit Charge, Fitbit Versa, and Fitbit Sense
Fitbit devices are well-known for their fitness and health tracking features, which include step counting, heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and activity tracking. The Fitbit Sense also provides advanced health measures, such as skin temperature and ECG.
Garmin
Product Line: Garmin Vivosmart, Forerunner, and Fenix
Garmin wearables are popular among athletes and fitness aficionados due to its reliable GPS tracking, heart rate monitoring, advanced fitness metrics, and health tracking features including body battery energy monitoring and stress tracking.
Samsung
Product Line: Samsung Galaxy Watch.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch series provides complete technology of wearable devices in healthcare, including heart rate monitoring, ECG, blood oxygen level measuring, sleep tracking, and exercise tracking. The combination with Samsung Health offers users detailed health insights.
Medtronic
Product Line: Guardian Connect, MiniMed.
Medtronic specializes in medical-grade wearable devices, primarily for diabetes treatment. Their continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and insulin pumps enable real-time glucose monitoring and insulin delivery.
Clinical trials of Wearable devices in healthcare
The use of wearable gadgets in clinical trials is changing the face of medical research. By 2024, these revolutionary tools will provide unparalleled potential for real-time data collecting, patient interaction, and streamlined workflows, increasing the efficiency and reliability of clinical trials.
Enhanced Data Collection and Accuracy
Wearable gadgets, such as smartwatches, fitness trackers, and continuous glucose monitors, are becoming critical for gathering real-time health information. These gadgets continuously monitor vital signs, physical activity, sleep patterns, and other health variables, allowing researchers to collect accurate and complete datasets. This real-time data collecting minimizes reliance on self-reported data, lowering mistakes and improving the trustworthiness of clinical trial results.
Improved patient engagement and retention.
Keeping patients engaged and retained is a big difficulty in clinical trials. Wearable gadgets alleviate this issue by providing participants with a more convenient and less intrusive means to contribute to the study. Participants can comfortably wear these gadgets, which blend into their regular lives, encouraging consistent use and improved retention rates. Furthermore, the real-time feedback offered by these devices keeps participants informed and engaged, resulting in increased adherence to trial protocols.
Streamlined Clinical Trial Procedures
Wearable devices in healthcare expedite numerous elements of clinical trials, including recruitment and data analysis. Wearables provide remote monitoring, decreasing the need for frequent site visits and enabling a more diversified participant pool, including people who live remotely. This remote capability also speeds up the recruitment process and broadens the pool of potential study participants, resulting in more universal and applicable findings.
Cost-effective and time-efficient.
Wearable technology in clinical trials can dramatically reduce expenses and save time. Continuous data gathering lowers the need for many on-site visits and manual data entry, resulting in decreased operational expenses. Furthermore, real-time data transfer enables speedier detection of trends and abnormalities, shortening the total research timetable and bringing innovative medicines to market sooner.
Conclusion
Advances in wearable devices in healthcare (HWDs) are transforming the treatment of chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and neurological disorders. Continuous and fast surveillance with HWDs gives crucial real-time data, which improves patient care. Chronic diseases, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), account for 75% of all deaths worldwide and have considerable economic consequences. HWDs provide excellent ways for monitoring and identifying these diseases, which aid in disease prevention and treatment.
These devices assess a variety of metrics and biopotentials, such as ECG for heart function, EMG for muscle activity, EEG for brain activity, and EOG for eye movements. Innovative HWDs, such as skin-based and biofluidic devices, are paving the way for next-generation health management solutions.
Wearable technology is evolving, with future possibilities including on-teeth sensors, smart contact lenses, electronic epidermal tattoos, smart patches, and smart textiles. These developments will allow for more compact and powerful devices, improving health monitoring capabilities.
Wearable technologies also promote fitness and wellness by encouraging physical activity and providing ongoing health monitoring. They enable early diagnosis and individualized healthcare, enabling for specific treatment approaches based on real-time data. The incorporation of wearable devices in healthcare systems offers more efficient, effective, and individualized medical care, indicating a promising future for healthcare innovation. Keep up with our blog for the latest in wearable technology and its influence on healthcare.
