This could be a cost-effective and easy way for patients with chronic conditions that require regular monitoring and check-ins with their physicians.

MIT has reportedly developed a machine-washable lightweight sensor that can be integrated into flexible fabrics to provide constant monitoring of vital signs including respiratory rate, heart rate and body temperature.

The sensor, which can be removed and reused in other garments, has potential applications in athletics, health industry and space exploration.

It can be a cost-effective alternative to telemedicine and in-person physician visits and may be suitable for patients with chronic conditions that require regular monitoring.

When embedded in garments, the sensor can provide a steady stream of biometric data to the healthcare professionals monitoring patient treatment.

The prototype sensor can communicate with a smartphone and could eventually be mass-produced by partners in China.

Several companies are already started experimenting with a similar technology like Forward which is distributing biometric sensors for at-home patient monitoring and Kinsa which uses sensor data to determine the potential indicator of COVID-19 spread.

3 KEY POINTS

1. MIT has developed a reusable and machine-washable sensor that can be embedded into fabrics to monitor vital signs such as body temperature, respiratory rate and heart rate.
2. It may be suitable for patients with chronic diseases that require regular monitoring.
3. The prototype of the sensor can communicate with a smartphone.

“Wearable sensors embedded in clothing have been tried before, and even productized, but MIT’s version looks like the most wearable and least disruptive to the wearer in terms of convenience and comfort yet,” says Darrell Etherington, science editor at TechCrunch.

Article source: https://techcrunch.com/2020/04/23/mit-develops-machine-washable-sensors-that-embed-in-clothing-for-constant-vital-sign-monitoring/

#ClinicalDataManagement, #Sensors, #PatientMonitoring, #MIT

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