Wearable Medical Sensors

As healthcare paradigms continue to move away from treating disease and toward promoting healthier lifestyles, consumers are becoming more engaged in monitoring and managing their own health. As a result, the market for wearable devices that measure everything from activity levels to vital signs has exploded in recent years, with no sign of slowing down any time soon. But the next generation of wearable devices is already in the works, and will be able to provide a more in-depth assessment of overall health than anything available today.

Wearable sensors that resemble colorful tattoos may someday be able to replace many of the laboratory tests that clinicians currently rely on to diagnose chronic diseases and monitor the effectiveness of treatment. For example, one patch-type device is capable of measuring glucose levels in the interstitial fluid just below the skin to provide a reliable indicator of blood glucose levels. Others measure potassium or lactic acid levels in sweat or saliva, and still others monitor pH levels or metabolic function. The obvious benefit is continuous feedback to the user which can be helpful in establishing healthier behaviors. However, all of these devices rely on electrochemical detection and wireless transmission of results, which requires a power source.

Bulky batteries generally offer limited run time or need daily recharging. One solution is a biofuel cell that generates electricity from sweat – enough to power an LED or wristwatch. Another approach that’s being evaluated is to harvest energy (such as solar) from the environment.

Although it’s been reported that not even half of users who currently own a wearable device use it every day, breakthroughs in technology and ease-of-use will likely fuel the growth of the wearables market well into the future.