In-Body Sensors to Monitor Health

Posted February 20, 2009 by Lygeia Ricciardi 

Check out this post on the Intelligent Medicine Blog -- a relatively new blog focused on how embedded computer and sensor technology is redefining and revolutionizing health care.

The post talks about a new device that inserts a sensor into a patient’s skin. Unlike an embedded device or chip, it can be quickly removed.

Such devices can continuously monitor health. As blogger David O'Reilly says, “continuous health monitoring will play an important role in advancing us from Health 2.0 (individual-focused online health empowerment and collaboration) to what we can call Health 3.0 (direct, automated connection between an individual’s sensed physiology and his Health 2.0 tools and communities).”

Interesting. Whether or not you agree with this particular definition of Health 3.0, these types of devices are certainly part of the puzzle of helping patients and their care providers more seamlessly monitor observations of daily living (ODLs) and apply them in useful ways. There are also some thoughts in the post about how these kinds of  technologies are likely to continue to evolve.  

Comments

[nurse line]

The healthcare system is falling apart, but as a health advocate I am assured a job as medical industries are in high demand always. Many poeple these days are utilizing
medical call center and telephone triage services to skirt high medical costs. A nurse line combined with certified nurse triage practicioners is a great alternative to going to the ER and being charged those astronimcal fees.

[Medical Billing Software]

This is both very interesting and very disturbing. I think it is great to have 24/7 health monitoring but there needs to be a way to be able to have a secure network to do so.

[Lygeia Ricciardi]

I agree with you entirely. There is a need for both a secure network and some clear, well-thought out policies about who can access personal health information and for what purposes.

- Lygeia