Sensors & Wearables

Wearable Sensor Could Help Patients with Bipolar Disorder Track Medication Levels Through Sweat

Although lithium is highly effective to treat bipolar disorder, the chemical has a narrow therapeutic window — too high a dose can be toxic to patients, causing kidney damage, thyroid damage, or even death, while too low a dose renders the treatment ineffective. Read on to learn how a wearable sensor may thwart this issue.

Smart Wound Monitor Poised to Improve Chronic Infection Care

Researchers have developed a wearable wound monitoring device with integrated sensors that could reduce infection risks by minimizing the need for frequent physical contact. The proof-of-concept device is designed for reuse, making it more cost-effective and practical than disposable smart bandages and other emerging wound monitoring technologies. Read on to learn more.

Regulatory

What consumer technology device became the first FDA-approved over-the-counter (OTC) assistive hearing device for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss?

Balancing Miniaturization, Power, and Compliance in Sensor Design

In this Q&A with Medical Design Briefs, Michael Klitzke, principal system architect at TE Connectivity, discusses how advances in sensor miniaturization, packaging,...

Magnetoelastic Smart Pen May Help Diagnose Parkinson’s

A smart, self-powered magnetoelastic pen could help detect early signs of Parkinson’s by analyzing a person’s handwriting. The highly sensitive diagnostic pen features a soft,...

Painless Diabetes Care: Smarter Drug Delivery

A wearable technology enables real-time, noninvasive tracking and optimized treatment for diabetic patients. It enables precise drug dosing through continuous, real-time monitoring of disease...

Creating Wearables for Preventative Healthcare

Wearables detect early signs of health issues, paving the way for transforming preventative healthcare.

Electrochemical Sensors Enable Inexpensive Disposable Diagnostics

Using an inexpensive electrode coated with DNA, researchers have designed disposable diagnostics that could be adapted to detect a variety of diseases, including cancer or...

Privacy and Data Security in the Era of Medical Wearables

As we continue to explore the impact of wearables on healthcare, this episode focuses on privacy and data security in the era of medical wearables. Wearables are collecting vast...

New Products and Services

See the new products and services, including Dickson's mapping suite designed to streamline the identification of critical hot and cold zones and the analysis of temperature and humidity trends; Littelfuse's series of sealed tactile switches for surface-mount technology; Mahr Inc.'s height gage designed for ease of use and efficiency in production environments; and more.

Tiny Microlaser Sensors Offer Supercharged Biosensing

Researchers have developed a 3D microprinted sensor for highly sensitive on-chip biosensing. The sensor, which is based on a polymer whispering-gallerymode microlaser, opens new opportunities for developing high-performance, cost-effective lab-on-a-chip devices for early disease diagnosis. Read on to learn more.

DNA-Inspired Design for Stronger, Flexible Sensors for Wearables

A fiber sensor inspired by the shape of DNA, developed by researchers at Shinshu University, introduces a new design for more durable, flexible fiber sensors in wearables. Read on to learn more.

CO-TENG: An Origami-Inspired Self-Powering Sensor for Smart Wearables

Sensors are used everywhere. But traditional sensors often rely on rigid components and batteries, limiting their applications in soft systems. To address this, researchers have developed a smarter alternative. Using a paper-folding technique in combination with a triboelectric nanogenerator, they created a novel energy-harvesting sensor with promising potential for next-gen soft devices. Read on to learn more.

Researchers Develop Self-Illuminating Biosensor

Engineers have harnessed quantum physics to detect the presence of biomolecules without the need for an external light source, overcoming a significant obstacle to the use of optical biosensors in healthcare. Read on to learn more.

Wristband All-in-One Monitor for Diabetes, Cardio Care

A wearable wristband could significantly improve diabetes management by continuously tracking not only glucose but also other chemical and cardiovascular signals that influence disease progression and overall health. Read on to learn more.

Smart Capsule Designed to Study GI Tract

Engineers have developed a smart capsule called PillTrek that can measure pH, temperature, and a variety of different biomarkers. It incorporates simple, inexpensive sensors into a miniature wireless electrochemical workstation that relies on low-power electronics. Read on to learn more.

Optoelectronic Patch Could Transform Blood Pressure Monitoring

A flexible optoelectronic patch, or ePatch, that is worn on a patient’s skin can continuously monitor blood pressure without the need for compressible cuffs or wired devices....

Self-Powered Patch Monitors Biomarkers Without Drawing Blood

Researchers have developed a self-powered microneedle patch to monitor a range of health biomarkers without drawing blood or relying on batteries or external devices. In...

Integrating AI into Medical Wearables

Artificial intelligence is transforming the design and function of wearable medical devices.

Flexible Material Offers Promise for Self-Powered Wearable Sensors

Could clothing monitor a person’s health in real time, because the clothing itself is a self-powered sensor? A new material created through electrospinning, which is a...

Wearable Platform Enables Continuous Measurement Using Ambient Light

Researchers have developed a next-generation wearable platform that enables 24-hour continuous measurement by using ambient light as an energy source and optimizing power...

How Wearables Are Transforming Chronic Disease Management

Wearable devices expand the ability to identify patients earlier and deliver more targeted treatments.

Wearable Lactation Pads Detect Chemicals in Milk

Engineers have developed a smart lactation pad that can quantify a wide range of chemicals in breast milk in real time. Read on to learn more.

Long-Lasting 3D Printed Wearable Transforms Health Monitoring

A long-lasting, 3D-printed, adhesive-free wearable provides a more comprehensive picture of a user’s physiological state. The device, which measures water vapor and skin emissions of gases, continuously tracks and logs physiological data associated with dehydration, metabolic shifts, and stress levels. Read on to learn more.

Cracking the Code of Cardiac Care: How AI-Enabled ECG Could Solve Key Challenges in CVD Diagnosis

The escalating costs and prevalence of cardiovascular disease demand innovative solutions that can enhance care quality while alleviating financial burden. AI-enabled ECG technology may offer a compelling and actionable response to these challenges. Read on to learn more.

Technology

What implantable sensor system became the first FDA-cleared continuous glucose monitor designed to remain in the body for up to 90 days?

Handheld Device Could Transform Heart Disease Screening

A handheld device could potentially replace stethoscopes as a tool for detecting certain types of heart disease. The device makes it easy for people with or without medical training to...

3D Ink Improves Comfort, Durability of ‘Smart Wearables’

Researchers have demonstrated a 3D ink printing method for so-called smart fabrics that continues to perform well after repeated washings and abrasion tests. The research...

Wearable Mimics CT Scans, Delivers Continuous Monitoring of Heart, Lungs

Researchers have developed a first-of-its-kind wearable device capable of continuously scanning the lungs and heart of hospital patients while they rest in bed —...