From sci-fi to reality: Wearable devices transforming healthcare

When we talk of wearable devices, we think of Fitbit and Apple Watch. These are wireless-enabled devices that track our activity and monitor various aspects of our fitness, such as heart rate, number of steps taken each day, and the quality of sleep. Commercialization, low costs, advances in battery technology, and connectivity with smartphones have led to their wide-scale adoption. According to Facts and Factors, the global wearable device market size is expected to cross US$380 billion by 2028. The number of health and fitness app users will cross 91 million in 2023, as per Insider Intelligence. There is so much more to wearable devices than what Fitbit and Apple Watch are currently offering. In this blog, we will look into the advances in wearable devices for healthcare and glimpse into the future to see where the technology is headed.

A tricorder is a fictional handheld sensor from the Star Trek universe that can perform environmental scans, data recording, and data analysis. Several decades ago, this was in the realm of science fiction. Recent advances in hardware are nudging us towards creating a fully functional tricorder—and more. Are we there yet? No. Are we getting closer? You bet!

Wearable technology is transforming the healthcare industry by providing innovative solutions and disrupting traditional healthcare practices. So what are we waiting for? Let’s get started.

Wearable technology—a quick primer#

Wearable technology took off in the early 2000s. We saw the mushrooming of personal devices that could communicate with each other using Bluetooth technology. Activity monitors, smartphones, smartwatches, and, more recently, AR/VR headsets became more common. Before we dive into the latest applications, let’s first have a quick look at the different classes of wearable technology.

Epidermal electronics, also known as e-tattoos and e-skins, consist of wireless-enabled stretchable circuits and sensors which are ultrathin and comfortable and can easily stick to the skin. In a less intrusive, and perhaps more comfortable, approach, sensors are embedded in our clothes for physiological monitoring. Both epidermal devices, as well as textile-based sensors, can monitor heart rate, body temperature, and respiration rate. These sensors are also used for detecting electrical and physical parameters like ECG and SCGThese stand for electrocardiogram and seismocardiography, and they record the electrical activity of the heart and vibrations produced by heartbeats, respectively. They are used to monitor heart health.. Cuff-less blood pressure monitoring is also made possible through these devices.

A different family of wearable devices monitors body secretions for important signals. Sweat, saliva, and tears contain important biomarkers such as metabolitesThey are intermediate or end products of metabolism whereby the body breaks down food, drugs, or body tissues., proteins, electrolytesThese are minerals in various body fluids that carry an electric charge. They impact various body functions., glucose, lactate levelsLactate is a bi-product produced in the body during exercise., pHThis measures how acidic our body fluids are., and sweat rate and loss. Microfluidic devices use capillary action in paper, polymer, or micro-needles to pick up bodily fluids for analysis. In a recent fascinating development, smart contact lenses have been made that can analyze tears.

Monitoring isn’t the only critical task done by wearable devices; drug delivery is another very important aspect of wearables in healthcare. Micro-needle skin patches, smart bandages, pharmaceutical jewelry, and textiles containing medicine are some of the innovative approaches to drug delivery. These usually work in combination with wearable monitors and control the dosage and its timing as required by the body. We also have Bluetooth-enabled pumps for remotely controlled drug delivery and dosage control; for instance, controlling body sugar levels by controlling the time and amount of insulin injected into the body.

Lastly, there are off-the-shelf popular commercial products like activity-tracking wristbands and smartwatches. These devices can monitor heartbeat, detect motion, and count steps. AR/VR headsets and smartphones, though not explicitly created for monitoring biomarkers, health, or activity, are being used for therapy, and by monitoring a person’s usage pattern, they can detect potential psychological issues.

As we delve into the fascinating world of wearable devices and appreciate their immense potential in healthcare, let’s now explore the wide-ranging applications and exciting future trends that are reshaping the landscape of modern medicine.

Wearable devices in healthcare and future trends#

Wearable devices have emerged as a game changer in healthcare. By promoting proactive health management, these gadgets are revolutionizing how we approach medical care.

Physical health#

Starting with some of the more obvious applications, we have systems that monitor blood sugar levels. These systems can then administer drugs if blood sugar levels fall below or exceed the safe limits. Then there are devices that focus on heart health. By monitoring, for instance, the heart’s electrical signal (ECG) and the acoustic signal (SCG) that come from the heart valves, we can measure cardiac time intervals, which are major indicators of heart conditions. Wearable ultrasound devices have been created that can conduct continuous non-invasive ultrasound imaging that allows the heart to be monitored from different views during physical activity. In various experiments, off-the-shelf fitness trackers have been able to preemptively detect signs of infections through changes in the heart rate. Some fitness trackers are also able to measure oxygen saturation, the amount of oxygen in the blood, which was a good indicator of the severity of a COVID infection during the recent pandemic, and could be used to determine when a patient needs to be moved to a hospital for care and when care at home would suffice.

Mental health#

An estimated 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men experience major depression at some point in their lives. Various common devices can help monitor or predict the onset of mental health issues. Work has been done on monitoring smartphone usage patterns to determine the user’s mental state. There are wearable sensors that can detect cortisolIt is the body’s main stress hormone. levels in sweat—which is an indicator of perceived stress.

Wearables can also help with therapy. Virtual reality therapy has been used in treating mental issues like PTSDPost-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and phobias, by making the patient go through the experience in a safe environment. Mobile apps, though not a substitute for human therapy, are quite helpful in giving therapy where patients might not want to go to a clinic or might be situated in a remote area.

Performance#

The current wave of wearable devices, which includes the Fitbit and the Apple Watch, was initially targeted toward monitoring and improving the wearer’s overall athletic performance. Because of all the hype surrounding them, it was easy to market them and they gained widespread popularity. Wearables play a very valuable role in monitoring various aspects of a person’s performance. This could include, on one hand, monitoring muscle fatigue in sportsmen during practice, and on the other, alertness in people driving a car or operating heavy machinery. During exercise, an athlete produces excessive amounts of lactic acid, which changes the pH level of sweat. This reading can be monitored to gauge muscle fatigue.

Solutions have also been developed that can measure the alcohol level in a person. This information can help a person decide if they are in a suitable condition to drive. Smartphones and wearable devices are being used to monitor the quality of sleep and assist in improving it.

Another problem, more commonly faced by the elderly population, is that they might lose balance and fall. This is especially problematic since a significant chunk of such population might be living alone. Wearable devices can detect falls and inform healthcare providers to take action.

Better emergency management#

A benefit of monitoring devices is that they can help healthcare providers and emergency responders take preemptive measures or respond to an emergency in a timely manner. Be it heart problems, abnormal blood sugar levels, or, for instance, accidents at home, doctors and paramedic staff can take timely action and save lives.

Organ-on-a-chip—the next big leap in biotechnology#

Heart-on-a-chip, kidney-on-a-chip, lung-on-a-chip, liver-on-a-chip—sounds like something straight out of the Borg CollectiveCybernetic organisms from Star Trek that are linked in a hive mind called the “Collective.". It’s not science fiction, though. It is the fascinating next step in medicine. The organ-on-a-chip couples biology with microtechnology. It aims to mimic key aspects of human physiology. The overall system consists of a chip, microfluidic system, and cell culture. These work together to implement the functions of a human organ. They can communicate with each other, via wireless communication, to coordinate various functions.

How far are we from seeing Colonel Steve Austin’s The Six Million Dollar Man among us? Not far—looking at the leaps and bounds by which the field is progressing.

No free lunches#

Wearable devices promise to revolutionize healthcare. But, unfortunately, there are no free lunches. As wearable devices gain more popularity and a greater adoption, the associated risks and challenges would become more pronounced, and addressing them would need to be prioritized. Some of the more urgent ones are discussed below.

Data privacy and security#

Wearable devices collect a large amount of personal data. Where this data is stored and how securely it is transmitted raises concerns about privacy breaches and potential misuse. The threat of unauthorized access for identity theft, insurance fraud, or other malicious activities should be raising eyebrows in cybersecurity and policy-making circles. In clinical settings, it is important to make sure the patient knows what data will be stored, how it would be used, and most importantly, how will the patient’s privacy be ensured. Data ownership could be a contentious issue. Will the hardware makers own the data and be allowed to use it for medical research? Will the companies be allowed to sell the data?

Wearable devices may generate massive amounts of data. Our course Grokking the Principles and Practices of Advanced System Design discusses ways to manage data in such scenarios in addition to explaining other issues of system design. Our course, Fundamentals of Digital Signal Processing, gives a more fundamental understanding of how information is treated as digital signals.

Accuracy, reliability, and regulatory compliance#

Wearable technology is far from perfect at the moment. Their readings might turn out to be inconsistent or inaccurate. This makes human intervention essential. But suppose a remote doctor relies solely on the data for critical decisions, who would be held responsible in medical malpractice lawsuits? Currently, wearables are treated as off-the-shelf commodities that might not be on the radar of regulatory bodies. As they are used more and more for healthcare, regulatory bodies might demand compliance which could be a complex and time-consuming process.

Addiction and over-dependence on wearables#

Lastly, as with various other devices, the possibility of over-reliance and addiction is there and it might lead to unnecessary anxiety and unhealthy usage behavior. Avoiding these should be a part of the product design. Otherwise, we would end up needing wearables to protect against wearables.

Wearable devices lead the way!#

Wearable devices have emerged as a revolutionary technology in the healthcare industry and hold tremendous potential to transform the way we monitor and manage our health. From healthcare providers to law enforcement agencies and insurance companies, a diverse set of consumers would be able to benefit from them. As technology continues to advance and become more accessible, the integration of wearables into healthcare ecosystems is bound to accelerate. However, with these promising advancements come challenges related to data security, privacy, and ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the collected data.

Wearable devices have already made a significant impact. But this is just the start. As wearable technology continues to advance, it promises a healthier and more connected world.