The rise of health and fitness apps, growing health-consciousness, and the need for portability in our current world condition continue to be huge factors spurring the development of wearable technology in healthcare.

Wearable technology is an industry that continues to improve and adapt to the ever-changing needs of our world. The applications are endless. It allows remote patient monitoring, encourages wearers to be more engaged in fitness, helps modify behavior via exercise or medication reminders, provides a platform for healthcare providers and patients to share data and collaborate on health strategies, and many more.

Wearables are undoubtedly disrupting and actively playing a vital part in healthcare. So how will this new digital age of wellness impact healthcare?

Health education and empowerment to patients

Wearable technology allows patients to take charge of their health data in real-time. Until recently, patients had to go to a doctor for assessment, treatment, and health progress. These days, patients can check their health and wellness at home or on the go. They can educate themselves and make better decisions on issues that affect their bodies.

Most wearable devices are affordable, and there is a low barrier to entry for general consumers. Furthermore, many wearables that are available on the market are user-friendly. A lot of new wearable technology is hitting the market regularly. For instance, some devices claim to help improve posture. Others monitor UV exposure, fix circadian rhythm, and help regulate body temperature. These wearables each target unique problems that may not already have solutions through other types of technology.

Check out this article to see Voler System’s top list of Wild and Crazy Wearable Devices in 2020.

Medical and clinical assistance

Wearable medical technology is already being used in healthcare. Surgeons wearing AR glasses can provide a point of view to other physicians and medical students during surgical and medical procedures. Virtual reality (VR) headgear is also playing a big part in changing healthcare for the better. One application of VR is speeding up recovery in physical therapy. Using gamification for physical therapy such as for patients in Neuro Rehab VR showed increased patient engagement and, subsequently, a significant improvement in mobility.

Virtual Reality used in conjunction with the gait trainers (Pictured: Lokomat)

Voler systems previously designed a wearable for medical eye care procedures. This device treats dry eyes by applying heat to the eyelids to stimulate the oils that lubricate the eyes. The company came to Voler with a working prototype.

Voler redesigned the hardware and firmware under design control to be approved as a medical device, and we made it ready for volume manufacturing. It received 510(k) approval and was successfully put on the market.

Assist doctors in patient monitoring and disease diagnosis

Many healthcare institutions now utilize remote patient monitoring (RPM) and telehealth solutions to lessen readmissions and enhance outcomes. Once ready, some patients are sent home with wearable tools that continuously track metrics such as heart rate, oxygen saturation, and weight. Combined with videoconferencing, RPM offers a way to provide care from afar.

This continuity of care also saves time and reduces confusion. Concerns that are detected can offer an avenue to bring patients back for faster consultations and treatment, potentially averting complications. It can also keep people from visiting the doctor when they don’t need to, a big advantage during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Are you developing wearable technology for healthcare?

It’s easy to underinvest in design and security to keep your product affordable; however, this can lead to catastrophic device failure, added costs, slow transfer to manufacturing, or even project failure. Utilizing a well-design device and integrating security during the development stage adds cost and time to the development, but building IoT devices with robust design and security features can result in big cost savings in production, legal compliance, and enhanced reputation.

You can entrust your wearable technology product design to Voler's expert low-power design team. Voler's experts combine decades of electronic design experience on hundreds of projects across a wide spectrum of sensors, power, and wireless communication. We are sensor experts and have developed many wearable technology products and medical devices by managing the design trade-offs between size, power, and cost. We select the best wireless standard for your application. Voler Systems offer services critical for successful medical device projects. Voler can kickstart prototypes or jump into any stage of product development while meeting tight development schedules and budgets.

Wearable technology is revolutionizing how healthcare is delivered, and we can expect to see this growth continue into the future.

About Voler

Located in Silicon Valley and with more than 40 years of electronic design experience, Voler Systems continues to be a leading custom product design consulting company providing highly experienced electrical engineers and firmware developers. Voler Systems ensures delivery of quality products, on time, on budget, and with low risk. All projects are undertaken with good specifications, the right people, quality design, constant communication, and a smooth transfer to manufacturing.