2020 has accelerated many trends across industries but it’s hard to think of a sector more widely impacted by the swift tech developments made throughout the year than the healthcare industry. It’s only natural. As the COVID-19 unleashed a global health crisis that demanded the best and fastest solutions to face the new challenges.
Thus, we’ve seen the rise of telemedicine as a way of distancing. And preventing further contagion. We’ve witnessed the deployment of AI-driven algorithms to analyze the virus, propose new treatments, and develop a vaccine in record times. We’ve even spotted novel uses of robotics for healthcare assistance.
Wearable Monitors
One of the most obvious uses for the IoT in job function email list healthcare is monitoring patients through IoT devices. I’ve just mentioned the smart thermometers. And rings that gather information about patients’ vital signs. But there’s more to it, with uses that are nothing short of impressive.
For instance, remote glucose monitoring is possible with a dedicated IoT device that continuously and automatically reads the levels at predefined intervals and sends the information to a central monitoring device for its control. And then there are the hand hygiene monitors that remind doctors to wash their hands to mitigate risks. Especially when visiting patients at higher risk of infection.
Swallowable Sensors
Wearable devices quickly find their limitations. As they can only measure the signs that can be collected from outside the body. But many medical tests involve a more invasive approach, such as cameras and probes to inspect the throat or the digestive tract.So it’s good to learn that researchers are working on ingestible sensors to replace them.
In-Body Devices
Swallowable sensors aren’t the only devices a practical case of leadership solved that could read vitals from inside the body. For example, smart inhalers could change the lives of millions of people with asthma by measuring air quality in real-time and sending alerts when the conditions pass a dangerous threshold. Thus, medical practitioners could gather data on the frequency of attacks and the conditions when they happened. Which could lead to a deeper understanding of the triggering events.
Then there are the smart contact lenses that marketing list provide some opportunities for healthcare (as well as for other purposes). These devices could include relevant information for doctors performing an operation, such as vital signs of the patient and important conditions they should keep in mind about that particular patient. Patients could also benefit from them, especially those with vision issues since the lens could better adjust themselves to the surrounding conditions and offer reminders to help patients see better in any given environment and without forcing their eyes.