Wearable biosensors have revolutionized healthcare delivery by allowing continuous monitoring of physiological signals. These systems are totally non-obtrusive and can detect events predictive of possible worsening of a patient’s clinical situation. They allow physicians to overcome the limitations of ambulatory technology and offer remote monitoring of patients.
Wearable biosensors consist of a biosensor and a wearable device. The biosensor is an analytical device used for detection of analytes, while the wearable device is an object that can be worn on the body, such as wrist watches, rings, and shirts. Wearable biosensors rely on wireless sensors enclosed in these wearable items. The data sets recorded using these systems are then processed to detect changes in a patient’s clinical situation.
The three main components of wearable biosensors are the biological element, transducer, and associated electronic devices. The biological element senses the presence and concentration of a substance, while the transducer converts the product of interaction of the biological component and sample into an electrical signal. Associated electronic devices amplify the electrical signal, which can then be read on digital panels.
Two types of wearable biosensors are the ring sensor and smart shirt. The ring sensor continuously monitors heart rate and oxygen saturation, while the smart shirt integrates sensors for monitoring vital signs such as temperature, heart rate, and respiration rate.
The ring sensor uses photo resistors to detect blood volume changes due to heart contraction and expansion by the photoelectric method. Light is emitted by the LED and transmitted through the artery. Oxygenated blood absorbs more light than deoxygenated blood. A noise cancellation filter is used to cancel the noise due to the motion of the finger.
The smart shirt is used in combat casualty care, medical monitoring, sports/performance monitoring, space experiments, mission-critical/hazardous applications, and firefighting. It works by using plastic optical fibers to send a signal from one end of the fiber to a receiver at the other end. If the light from the emitter does not reach the receiver, it signifies that the smart shirt has been penetrated.
Advantages of wearable biosensors include continuous monitoring, ease of use, and reduced hospitalization fees. Disadvantages include high initial costs and limited monitoring of physiological parameters.
Future developments in wearable biosensors include the development of biosensors with greater sensitivity and longer battery life.
In conclusion, wearable biosensors are a revolutionary technology that has dramatically altered the landscape of healthcare delivery and the practice of medicine. They offer continuous monitoring of health, which is essential in remote patient monitoring, training support for athletes, and tracking the vital signs of professional truck drivers to alert them of fatigue. Wearable biosensors have a bright future in healthcare and promise to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.
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