Erin Byrne, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Sensors, TE Connectivity10.03.23
Vital signs are the standard indicators to assess a patient’s health status and detect potential medical problems. Thanks to the development of new medical technologies leveraging IoT (the Internet of Things), vital signs can now be measured both in the hospital as well as remotely from a patient’s home.
In fact, since the pandemic, the demand for telemedicine and remote monitoring has greatly accelerated as it not only reduces costs, but also increases patient comfort and helps better manage diseases. What’s more, given that early detection is the key to receiving proper care, accurate vital sign monitoring has become a necessity so that changing health conditions do not go unnoticed.
In critical care scenarios, specifically, sensors operate within the equipment in the surgical suite, patient room, or intensive care unit to detect and monitor patient vital signs, allowing healthcare professionals to accurately diagnose and treat hospitalized patients. Small, connected sensors provide a constant flow of crucial data on temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure to help determine a patient’s status, making it less likely that unexpected events will happen.
From a telemedicine perspective, instead of visiting a facility multiple times as in the past, a patient can now be monitored by their doctor in real-time and remotely via sensors. In some cases, patients are even able to be treated offsite since their healthcare provider can monitor their vitals remotely while the treatment is being administered.
As time goes on, new technology is emerging as the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) pushes the shift to a more flexible, patient-centered monitoring approach. One such example is piezoelectric film sensors. Piezoelectric film sensors are sensitive enough to measure a patient’s pulse and respiration rate based on physical contact, eliminating the need for a nurse to use a blood pressure cuff or pulse oximetry reading. These films can be incorporated into an office examination table or a waiting room seat, collecting the patient’s vital signs before they’re even seen by the doctor. This can also be used for veterinary care as well as it is often difficult to get the vital signs of animals, making the process much easier.
Another layer in this space is the expectation of being connected anytime and anywhere via wearable technology. Wearable technology has evolved into a growth industry due to the many benefits to users. Medical wearables, specifically, can help determine a patient’s vital signs on-the-go, creating an enhanced sense of safety and productivity, and it is the sensors within these devices that provide the critical information for their function.
From one beat to the next, the healthcare ecosystem is becoming more and more connected, and the need for more accurate, compact, and reliable sensors is increasing. As the future of remote monitoring advances and the IoMT landscape continues to evolve, so will sensor technologies that are aimed at creating a safer, more comfortable, and more convenient patient experience.
Erin Byrne is Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for TE Sensors, a division of TE Connectivity, a $1 billion provider of advanced sensors for the industrial, medical, and transportation markets. She is an expert in developing, manufacturing, and implementing sensors for Industrial Internet of Things (IIOT) and Medical applications. She can be reached at erin.byrne@te.com.
In fact, since the pandemic, the demand for telemedicine and remote monitoring has greatly accelerated as it not only reduces costs, but also increases patient comfort and helps better manage diseases. What’s more, given that early detection is the key to receiving proper care, accurate vital sign monitoring has become a necessity so that changing health conditions do not go unnoticed.
The Importance of Sensors
At the center – or heart – of vital signs monitoring are various types of sensors, such as pressure sensors and temperature sensors, which enable the collection of data to make informed decisions about a patient’s care. In both critical care and telemedicine, vital signs monitoring equipment uses sensors to measure body temperature, pulse rate, respiration rate, and blood pressure.In critical care scenarios, specifically, sensors operate within the equipment in the surgical suite, patient room, or intensive care unit to detect and monitor patient vital signs, allowing healthcare professionals to accurately diagnose and treat hospitalized patients. Small, connected sensors provide a constant flow of crucial data on temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure to help determine a patient’s status, making it less likely that unexpected events will happen.
From a telemedicine perspective, instead of visiting a facility multiple times as in the past, a patient can now be monitored by their doctor in real-time and remotely via sensors. In some cases, patients are even able to be treated offsite since their healthcare provider can monitor their vitals remotely while the treatment is being administered.
As time goes on, new technology is emerging as the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) pushes the shift to a more flexible, patient-centered monitoring approach. One such example is piezoelectric film sensors. Piezoelectric film sensors are sensitive enough to measure a patient’s pulse and respiration rate based on physical contact, eliminating the need for a nurse to use a blood pressure cuff or pulse oximetry reading. These films can be incorporated into an office examination table or a waiting room seat, collecting the patient’s vital signs before they’re even seen by the doctor. This can also be used for veterinary care as well as it is often difficult to get the vital signs of animals, making the process much easier.
Another layer in this space is the expectation of being connected anytime and anywhere via wearable technology. Wearable technology has evolved into a growth industry due to the many benefits to users. Medical wearables, specifically, can help determine a patient’s vital signs on-the-go, creating an enhanced sense of safety and productivity, and it is the sensors within these devices that provide the critical information for their function.
From one beat to the next, the healthcare ecosystem is becoming more and more connected, and the need for more accurate, compact, and reliable sensors is increasing. As the future of remote monitoring advances and the IoMT landscape continues to evolve, so will sensor technologies that are aimed at creating a safer, more comfortable, and more convenient patient experience.
Further Reading
This is the fourth part of a series on sensors. Don’t miss the previous online exclusives also by Erin Byrne:- Why Advanced Sensors Are Crucial Within Medical Pumps
- How Advanced Sensors Improve Design & Functionality of Respiratory Care Equipment
- Sensors: The Heart of Minimally Invasive Equipment Technology
Erin Byrne is Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for TE Sensors, a division of TE Connectivity, a $1 billion provider of advanced sensors for the industrial, medical, and transportation markets. She is an expert in developing, manufacturing, and implementing sensors for Industrial Internet of Things (IIOT) and Medical applications. She can be reached at erin.byrne@te.com.