CES Showcases New Medical Technology

The 2013 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) was held from Jan. 8-11 this year in Las Vegas, Nev. The show is presented each year by the Consumer Electronics Association. This year, there were more than 3,250 exhibitors. 74 companies showcased their latest technology and 30 unveiled new products.

Though most of the show’s attention may focus around the latest phone, gadget for the home or interactive video game system, medical technology also makes the cut at CES.

Some of the medical product highlights were:

• MobileHelp’s new MyHalo wearable auto fall detect pendant and a new cellular base station. MyHalo is a lightweight, waterproof pendant with auto fall detect that is designed to trigger an emergency call on a MobileHelp mobile device or home base station in the event of a fall. The user wears the device, which contains tiny sensors capable of measuring user orientation and three-dimensional motion, around her neck. If the user falls and is incapacitated, immobilized or unconscious, the pendant will detect the sudden fall and send a signal to MobileHelp’s emergency response center. Even if the user cannot speak, the operator will be able to dispatch help. The MobileHelp cellular base station operates on AT&T’s cellular network; the user presses the button to send an alarm to a 24-hour staffed emergency call center where an operator reportedly will have instant access to the user’s basic medical history and emergency contacts. The cellular base station will work as an integrated system with MobileHelp’s pendant and wrist button, as well as the new MyHalo device. According to the company, this will be the first medical alert system with fall detection available to users with no landline phone. MobileHelp is based in Boca Raton, Fla., and is focused on M-PERS (mobile-personal emergency response system) technology;
• Ambio Health’s remote health monitoring system. The system is designed to monitor weight, blood pressure, and blood glucose levels. The system has an inbuilt feature that allows patients to invite family and professional care partners to join their “care circle,” which allows those providing support to the patient to access the data and view results. Members of the care circle can also set up reminders for the patient to take readings and medications, as well as create a points and rewards system for achieving targets. Company CEO Kevin Jones noted that health monitoring has become an increasingly important issue in healthcare: “Industry studies show that 90 percent of seniors aged 65 plus would like to ‘age in place,’ but since most of them have chronic diseases, family members are concerned about their health status, especially when they are not able to visit every day. Surveys show that a large percentage of seniors aged 65 plus and their families would use remote health monitoring if made affordable.” Ambio Health is based in Stamford, Conn., and provides health and activity monitoring solutions; and
• Salutron Inc.’s new line of consumer physiological monitoring products. The new wearable monitors incorporate biometric monitoring technologies the company gained from its merger with Linea Research Corporation in early 2012. According to company CEO Robert McClain, the new C-Series physiological monitoring products are “setting the bar for a new class of fashionable, multifunctional wearable monitors. The devices provide continuous monitoring capabilities at an affordable price point.” Linea’s core competence is in the design and application of electrophysiology and near infrared spectroscopy for medical applications. Salutron develops physiological monitoring solutions for wearable devices and exercise equipment and is headquartered in Fremont, Calif.

CEA President and Chairman Gary Shapiro said that more than 20,000 new products would launch at CES. “CES has an incredible story to tell with every major technology company spanning the globe participating in this year’s CES to showcase their innovations.”

CEA, based in Arlington, Va., has approximately 2,000 members.