In Vivo Sensors: More than a Space-Age Fantasy?
Why donât we have in vivo sensors sprinkled around our bodies? How long until we stop investing in temporary ex vivo sensors and start investing in permanent in vivo ones? What technological barriers are in the way? Where would they go for maximum usefulness? What would be the benefit?
Numerous medical device developers are investing in ex vivo sensors for a variety of applications, from wearables that support wellness, to outpatient tracking or non-invasive single-use diagnostics. Iâve been on a bit of a sci-fi kick lately, and it seems a pretty common motif that in the (fictional) future, everyone has âsensorsâ throughout their body, bouncing telemetry back to the spaceship captain and, most importantly, helping to build suspense during intense space battles.
Itâs got me thinking about biomedical data points we may want to track, which technology they would use, and what kind of data weâd get. Here are some ideas:
Movement Analysis
Technology and location: Piezo sensors on the joints
Used to:
Quantify changes in range of motion.
Alert following single traumatic events: overextension, impacts, falls, etc.
Diagnose potential long-term problems early: poor posture, bad gait, etc.
Track wellness: sleep, exercise.
Cardiac Rhythm Tracking
Technology and location: Implantable EEG in the chest
Used to:
Quantify heart stress or irregularities.
Indicate general wellness.
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Source: MDDI - Category: Medical Devices Authors: Nigel Syrotuck Tags: Digital Health Source Type: news
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