MEDICAL ELECTRONICS
derived from an industry standard and usually does not consider the capability of the device under specific use-conditions, such as implantables, defibrillators or other medical applications requiring safety measures. As a result, concluding the success of a device by assuming that existing trends will continue results in impractical failure rates. Improving the effectiveness and efficiency of reliability assessments throughout devices is essential, but it can also be a huge challenge. In the past, medical technology would primarily focus on diagnostic
and curative care. This included devices many of us are familiar with today, such as pacemakers and knee replacements. As today’s technology is far more sophisticated, there is a greater emphasis on improving the lives of patients in the long term and ultimately enhancing the human lifecycle. Wearable devices and sensor technologies are valuable tools when
it comes to early diagnosis. Thanks to these and other similar devices, healthcare workers can instantly recognise if there is an issue with the patient and if they need to act. In addition, the growth in big data can link genetic profiles to specific diseases and reveal how patients will respond to a certain drug. Big data within the healthcare industry describes the volume of information captured by technology, which can collect patients' records and ultimately help manage hospital performance. This supports the shift towards asymptomatic disease identification, where early intervention can lead to lower healthcare costs. Another benefit is the overall speed and significantly less invasive intervention required. Today, it is normal for patients to expect quick and efficient responses about their health. This is due to not only advancements in technology, but also from collaborations among nanotech engineers, surgeons, radiologists, physiologists, and pharmacists.
The innovation behind smart bandages If a patient is suffering with an open wound, such as a bedsore or foot ulcer, they will often need to be checked on frequently by a healthcare worker. This enables the healing of the wound to be monitored in the correct way. Despite this being the standard practice, it often requires regular
and sometimes undesirable trips to a doctor’s surgery. However, smart bandages are a recent innovation that can significantly reduce these visits. As a result, this is revolutionising patient care for this type of injury. A smart bandage is a flexible adhesive patch which can be used to apply pressure to help a wound heal. The bandages use sensors to simultaneously measure how much strain is being put on the skin, as well as the patient’s temperature, which can affect the healing process. The readings from the dressing can also be sent to a healthcare provider via a smartphone app, which researchers have developed. With the ability to monitor temperature and strain, the smart bandage is particularly useful when identifying respiratory diseases such as COVID-19. Smart bandages use low-power consumption of the sensors, which means the interface can directly operate from the energy acquired by the near-field communication harvester. Wearable strain and temperature sensors also provide important information such as respiratory volume and body temperature, which are two parameters that are rarely combined for wound assessment. This makes smart bandages one of the most innovative wearable devices to enter the healthcare industry in recent years. The smart bandage can also be used to check the lung functions of those with respiratory conditions such as asthma. The same applies for patients on ventilators, as the patch can be placed on their chest and the strain sensor can detect erratic breathing. The smart app connected to the bandage can immediately notify healthcare professionals, which can speed up testing and potentially stop a sick patient from infecting others. In addition to this, the bandage can be used by just about anybody, which has been a great asset for frontline workers. Sophisticated technologies that work alongside big data are continuing to advance the healthcare industry. Based on the inputs
from experienced clinicians, these can help extract useful information and enhance efficiency for healthcare workers. In turn, this can help predict the growth of diseases, highlight improvements with diagnosis and even prevent a disease completely by predicting in advance. The last year has proven that sophisticated technologies within the healthcare sector are invaluable. It is expected that devices such as smart bandages and wearable sensors will continue to emerge or evolve in the years to come, making it an exciting time for the industry.
IEEE
www.ieee.org
HIGH ACCURACY THERMISTORS
• Fast Thermal Response • High Accuracy • Interchangeability
YEARS OF MAKING
25
TECHNOLOGY SAFER
Semitec’s wide range of NTC Thermistor are ideal for use in all types of temperature measurement, and temperature monitoring. Typical applications include catheter, small probes, medical devices, temperature monitoring equipment and portable batteries.
Semitec F-Micro (on reel)
Semitec JT
Semitec FT SMD
ATC Semitec SP
www.atcsemitec.co.uk
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SEPTEMBER 2021 | ELECTRONICS TODAY 31 ATC Medical ad 86x124 JUL20
AW.indd 1 30/07/2020 14:50
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