Among the latest trends in medical wearables are smart patches. Stuck directly on the skin, they are able to continuously record body data by way of their built-in sensors, as well as administering drugs in a minimally invasive way, for example.
Smart patches offer the advantage that they are stuck directly on the skin. That minimises the risk of interference with measurements due to the motion and friction of the sensors on the skin, as can happen in the case of T-shirts with built-in sensors, for example. Moreover, patches are virtually invisible, and are very comfortable to wear.
Like the AmpStrip from FitLinxxs: it is a thin, sensor-covered unit which is as discreet and comfortable as a sticking plaster. It monitors heart rate, breathing, body temperature and posture round the clock. An interesting aspect is that FitLinxxs originally wanted to develop the patch for the fitness market, but then late last year announced that it was upgrading the AmpStrip for medical applications.
Help for diabetics
A patch which has already been turned into reality for the medical sector is the Diabetes Care FreeStyle Libre by Abbott. Instead of measuring their blood sugar by testing their blood, patients apply a plaster-like sensor, about the size of a 2 euros coin, to their upper arm. Using a tiny probe inserted directly under the skin, the sensor patch measures the glucose content in the intercellular fluid once every minute. Patients can read out the sensor at any time using a small scanner. The patch can be worn when showering, swimming and playing sports. It just has to be changed every two weeks.
Administering drugs automatically
A patch developed by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) goes a step further: it not only measures data, but also automatically administers drugs when necessary. The flexible patch is made of a gel-type material incorporating temperature sensors, LED lights and microscopically small storage modules and ducts. They supply the patient with drugs as required. The sensors measure the skin temperature, and if it changes, drugs are automatically administered. The LED lights signal when the medicine in the patch’s storage modules is used up.
From wearable to trainable
Another example of the usefulness of smart patches is “UpRight”, a unit which is worn on the back to monitor posture. It is fitted with multiple sensors which track the movement of the back. If the wearer’s posture sags, sitting at a table with rounded shoulders for example, the patch vibrates to signal the wrong position. The product is one of the new generation of “trainables”, telling patients when their behaviour is wrong so that they can remedy it.