2024-10-30 23:24:00
The new sentinels of health? They will be a few centimeters long, and hi-tech. ‘Smart’ patches equipped with wearable, flexible sensors capable of detecting symptoms and health alerts ranging from cardiac arrhythmias to coughs, and even falls. These devices can monitor the state of the organism 24 hours a day, are part of the macrofamily called ‘Iot’, Internet of Things, and seem promising. But they generate large amounts of data, which must be processed to be understood. The ‘smart’ patch created by a Japanese research team it also overcomes the problem of big data. The field of computing that deals with processing this data on the sensor or on a device to which the sensor is connected, rather than on a remote server in the cloud, is called ‘edge computing’ and is a key element in sensor technology wearable. Experts have developed software that does just that: it allows you to use a smartphone as an edge computing device.
How does the hi-tech patch work?
The results of their work are illustrated in the magazine ‘Device’. The smart sensor patch is paired with a phone to detect changes in various parameters, as well as arrhythmias, coughs and falls. “Our goal in this study – explains Kuniharu Takei of Hokkaido University, who led the research team with Kohei Nakajima of the University of Tokyo – was to design a multimodal sensor patch capable of processing and interpreting data using edge computing and detect early stages of disease during daily life.”
The team created sensors that monitor cardiac activity via electrocardiogram (ECG), breathing, skin temperature and humidity caused by sweating. After confirming their suitability for long-term use, the sensors were integrated onto a flexible film (sensor patch) that adheres to human skin. The sensor patch also included a Bluetooth module to connect to a smartphone. The researchers first tested the sensor patch’s ability to intercept physiological changes in 3 volunteers, who wore it on their chest. “Although our test group was small, we could observe their vital signs changing while monitoring high-temperature time series. This observation could eventually lead to the identification of heat stress symptoms at an early stage,” suggests Takei.
The research team then developed a machine learning program to process the recorded data and detect other symptoms such as cardiac arrhythmias, coughs and falls. “In addition to performing the analysis on a computer,” Nakajima describes, “we also designed an edge computing application for smartphones that can perform the same analysis. We achieved a prediction accuracy of more than 80%.”
“The significant advancement of this study is the integration of flexible multimodal sensors, real-time machine learning data analysis, and remote vital monitoring via smartphone,” concludes Takei. “One disadvantage of our system is that the ‘training'” of the hi-tech system “could not be performed on the smartphone and had to be done on the computer. However, this can be solved by simplifying the data processing.” The study ultimately allows a step forward on the path of ‘patches’, intelligent patches for telemedicine or telediagnosis.
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Interview between Time.news Editor, Sarah Jennings, and Dr. Kuniharu Takei, Lead Researcher at Hokkaido University
Sarah Jennings: Welcome, Dr. Takei! It’s such a pleasure to have you with us today to discuss your exciting work on smart health patches. This new technology sounds like a real game-changer in personal health monitoring.
Dr. Kuniharu Takei: Thank you, Sarah! I’m excited to be here and share our findings. The potential of wearable technology in healthcare is indeed transformative.
Sarah Jennings: To start, can you explain what exactly a smart patch is and how it functions in everyday life?
Dr. Takei: Absolutely! Our smart patch is a small, flexible device that monitors various health parameters continuously. It uses sensors to track things like cardiac activity through electrocardiograms, respiratory patterns, skin temperature, and even humidity levels from sweating. The data is processed in real-time through a connected smartphone using edge computing, which means we can detect changes quickly, leading to early intervention.
Sarah Jennings: Edge computing sounds essential to your patch’s functionality. Can you elaborate on why this is a critical aspect of your project?
Dr. Takei: Certainly! Traditional health monitoring devices often send data to remote servers in the cloud for processing, which can introduce delays and privacy concerns. With edge computing, we can analyze data right on the user’s device—like a smartphone—enabling immediate feedback. This is particularly important for recognizing acute symptoms like arrhythmias or falls, where time is of the essence.
Sarah Jennings: That’s fascinating! You mentioned the patch can detect conditions like cardiac arrhythmias and even coughs. How does the technology differentiate between various health alerts?
Dr. Takei: Each health parameter we monitor has its own unique signature. Our software uses complex algorithms that interpret the data from multiple sensors simultaneously. For instance, it can distinguish between a normal heartbeat and an arrhythmic one by analyzing the electrocardiogram and correlating it with the respiratory data. Ultimately, our goal is to identify deviations from the user’s baseline health to trigger alerts when necessary.
Sarah Jennings: It sounds incredibly sophisticated! What challenges did your team face during the development process, particularly with integrating multiple types of sensors?
Dr. Takei: One of the main challenges was ensuring the sensors could work effectively over long periods without compromising comfort. We wanted to create a patch that users could wear throughout their daily activities. Balancing flexibility, durability, and battery efficiency was crucial, and it required extensive testing and iteration on our part.
Sarah Jennings: I can only imagine! With health data being so sensitive, what measures have you implemented to ensure user privacy and data security?
Dr. Takei: User privacy is a top priority for us. Since the data processing happens on the smartphone, we minimize the amount of data sent to the cloud. Any data that does need to be stored or transmitted is encrypted. We also give users complete control over their data, allowing them to decide who has access to it and how it’s used.
Sarah Jennings: It sounds like you’ve considered various critical aspects of health monitoring technology. What do you envision for the future of smart health patches and their role in healthcare?
Dr. Takei: I see these patches playing a significant role in personalized medicine. By continuously monitoring health and providing real-time feedback, we can empower users to make informed decisions about their health and potentially detect diseases earlier than ever before. As we develop the technology further, I believe we’ll see integration with telemedicine and AI for even greater insights.
Sarah Jennings: That’s an inspiring vision for the future! Thank you for sharing your insights on this groundbreaking technology, Dr. Takei. We look forward to seeing how smart patches evolve.
Dr. Takei: Thank you, Sarah! I appreciate the opportunity to discuss our work, and I’m excited about what lies ahead in the world of health tech.