Issue link: https://te.mouser.com/i/1351132
© 2017 TE Connectivity Corporation. TE Connectivity, TE, TE connectivity (logo) and EVERY CONNECTION COUNTS are trademarks. By integrating IoT features into medical devices, it promises to greatly improve the quality and effectiveness of healthcare, bringing especially high-value care for the elderly, patients with chronic conditions, and those requiring constant supervision. There is a growing interest in IoT-driven healthcare services and wearable medical devices that feature sensors, actuators and other mobile communications methods that allow patient data to be continuously monitored and transmitted via cloud-based platforms. These devices can alert doctors and nurses of important changes in vital signs. It is even becoming big business. Spending on healthcare IoT could top $120 billion in just four years, by some estimates. Devices today monitor all sorts of patient behavior – from glucose monitors to fetal monitors to electrocardiograms to blood pressure. And while patients have to often follow-up with a physician, the smarter monitoring devices of tomorrow may change that. For instance, some smart devices today can detect if medicines are being taken regularly at home from smart dispensers. If not, they can initiate a call or other contact from providers to get patients properly medicated. The possibilities offered by the healthcare IoT to lower costs and improve patient care are almost limitless. Trend #5 Wearable medical technology innovations are driving growth, allowing healthcare to reach new frontiers. "Soon, medical centers, rather than tech and fitness companies, will become the de facto providers of wearables," Stanford University Medicine predicts. "In fact, a majority of people [participating in a 2016 PWC survey] already agree that they would be excited to experience wearable technology from a doctor (65 percent), from a hospital (62 percent) or a health insurance company (62 percent)." The clinical application of wearable medical technology is evolving fast as technology companies are partnering with healthcare organizations to help patients and clinicians make better decisions. Consider some of these applications: n Remote monitoring of sleep and vital statistics for bedridden patients. n Gloves with Bluetooth sensors that help stroke patients with neurological and musculoskeletal injuries regain mobility in their hands. n Painless and accurate glucose monitoring.