The IoT technology has surely left its mark on the healthcare industry and changed it for the better. Without being overly dramatic, it’s easy to say that both the treatment as well as the diagnosis processes have become streamlined as a result. It’s now possible to remotely control patient care and instantly spot medical symptoms without the presence of a doctor. Of course, there are other uses for technology as well.
- Automated insulin delivery
OpenAPS, a solution for automated insulin delivery, is one of the most mention-worthy IoT breakthroughs in the healthcare industry. Relying on nothing more but the compact computing power of a Raspberry Pi, the technology can adapt the insulin delivery amount on a per-need basis. This can be achieved by monitoring the glucose levels of the patient, based on which the delivery rate can be adjusted on the spot.
- Connected contact lenses
Another great invention the people with diabetes could theoretically benefit from. By measuring the glucose levels in one’s tears, it’s possible to issue out a warning that alerts the wearer whenever these are either too high or too low. However, in 2018, Google scientists that developed these were forced to shelve them due to criticism pointing out that measuring glucose levels in such a way is not reliable enough.
- Depression-monitoring watch
This one comes from Apple. While appearing to be lodged inside a human mind, depression is a serious medical condition that must not be underestimated. As such, Apple’s depression-monitoring watch came to be. The watch was designed for monitoring mood changes and daily assessments, which is of great aid when it comes to getting some additional insight into one’s subconscious. To address the privacy concerns, as long as you’re using a VPN on your device, you shouldn’t be worried that anything you send through it or store on it will fall into the wrong hands.
- Cancer treatment devices
The IoT technology makes it possible to monitor the blood pressure and track the symptoms of cancer patients, all while sending the updates straight to the physician to analyze. This allows for fast and efficient response times.
- Ingestible sensors
There is a huge problem of patients not taking drugs the way they were prescribed to be taken. In response, Proteus Digital Health has created pills that emit a signal that can be picked up by a device users wear on the outer layer of their body.
- Glucose monitoring and insulin pens
According to recent statistics, 1 in every 10 adults has diabetes, a condition that requires constant monitoring. Nowadays, there are devices that can monitor a person’s insulin levels and report the current condition straight to a smartphone app through which the patient can monitor them. Better yet, caregivers can use the same data as well.
- Connected inhalers
Connected inhalers can give asthma patients an insight into what’s going on in their lungs. These devices not only help patients understand their condition better but also alert them when it’s time to take their medication. As a result of this, they tend to take their medication more consistently.
- Asthma monitors
Speaking of asthma, there are now asthma monitors that can predict the onset of an asthma attack before it happens. ADAMM is one such wearable solution. One of the features is text message alerting and tracking inhaler usage. Its smart algorithms analyze behavioral patterns and alert the wearer as soon as something is out of the ordinary.
- Parkinson’s disease monitor
In the past, a physician would have to monitor the patient’s symptoms. Nowadays, the same can be achieved with the use of an API that can automate the task. All it takes is connecting an app to the monitor. Then, the user can monitor the progression of the disease by reading a graph. It’s even possible to get a breakdown of symptom fluctuation on a per-minute level.
- Coagulation testing device
Have you ever wondered how quickly your blood clots? With Bluetooth-enabled coagulation system, it is now achievable to assess, and the greatest benefit of doing so is lowering the risk of bleeding or stroke. These devices do away with the need for the patient to visit a clinic to get the same measurements done.
Conclusion
IoT technology is changing the way how patients and physicians can monitor their health. The bottom line is, as long as there is a market for them, they are here to stay. Over the course of time, it’s not foolish to expect these to become the norm.
