Feature

Advances in medically accurate sensors pave the way to better health

The rise in wearables and phone apps for personal fitness monitoring has been phenomenal in recent years and people are used to seeing data measuring their daily activities and body statistics. Sensors for wearable medical devices and apps are still evolving…

01/12/2021 11:05:25

First-generation devices made simple measurements of inputs, recording what the wearer had done in a day, such as the number of steps taken, etc. These were useful for making and sticking to goals related to activities that may have improved the health of the wearer as long as their personal motivation was high. Second-generation sensors added health-related measurements, such as pulse rate measurements and heart rate, but this data is of little significant benefit to any but to the already keen fitness and sportsperson and has no value to the medical profession.

Third-generation sensors are now becoming available that give highly accurate measurements of blood pressure, temperature, blood oxygen, pulse rate and respiration rate. With the capability to measure vital signs, wearables are no longer toys, they are regulated medical devices. The V-Sensor from Leman Micro Devices is the only sensor currently available that is capable of measuring vital signs to medical accuracy, completely calibration-free and without the use of any other devices.

Read the full article in DPA's December issue

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.