{"id":22561,"date":"2018-02-21T19:42:05","date_gmt":"2018-02-21T19:42:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.kurzweilai.net\/?p=309315"},"modified":"2018-02-23T23:06:00","modified_gmt":"2018-02-23T23:06:00","slug":"two-new-wearable-sensors-may-replace-traditional-medical-diagnostic-devices","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hoo.central12.com\/fugic\/2018\/02\/21\/two-new-wearable-sensors-may-replace-traditional-medical-diagnostic-devices\/","title":{"rendered":"Two new wearable sensors may replace traditional medical diagnostic devices"},"content":{"rendered":"

Throat-motion sensor monitors stroke effects more effectively
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A radical new type of stretchable, wearable sensor that measures vocal-cord movements could be a \u201cgame changer\u201d for stroke rehabilitation, according to Northwestern University<\/a> scientists. The sensors can also measure swallowing ability (which may be affected by stroke), heart function, muscle activity, and sleep quality. Developed in the lab of engineering professor John A. Rogers<\/a>, Ph.D., in partnership with Shirley Ryan AbilityLab<\/a> in Chicago, the new sensors have been deployed to tens of patients.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the biggest problems we face with stroke patients is that their gains tend to drop off when they leave the hospital,\u201d said Arun Jayaraman, Ph.D., research scientist at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and a wearable-technology expert. \u201cWith the home monitoring enabled by these sensors, we can intervene at the right time, which could lead to better, faster recoveries for patients.\u201d<\/p>\n

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(credit: Elliott Abel\/ Shirley Ryan AbilityLab)<\/p><\/div>\n

Monitoring movements, not sounds.<\/strong> The new band-aid-like stretchable throat sensor (two are applied) measures speech patterns by detecting throat movements to improve diagnosis and treatment of aphasia<\/a>, a communication disorder associated with stroke.<\/p>\n

Speech-language pathologists currently use microphones to monitor patients\u2019 speech functions, which can’t distinguish between patients\u2019 voices and ambient noise.<\/p>\n

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(credit: Elliott Abel\/ Shirley Ryan AbilityLab)<\/p><\/div>\n

Full-body kinematics.<\/strong> AbilityLab also uses similar electronic biosensors (developed in Rogers\u2019 lab) on the legs, arms and chest to monitor stroke patients\u2019 recovery progress. The sensors stream data wirelessly to clinicians\u2019 phones and computers, providing a quantitative, full-body picture of patients\u2019 advanced physical and physiological responses in real time.<\/p>\n

Patients can wear them even after they leave the hospital, allowing doctors to understand how their patients are functioning in the real world.<\/p>\n

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(credit: Elliott Abel\/ Shirley Ryan AbilityLab)<\/p><\/div>\n

Mobile displays.<\/strong> Data from the sensors will be presented in a simple iPad-like display that is easy for both clinicians and patients to understand. It will send alerts when patients are under-performing on a certain metric and allow them to set and track progress toward their goals. A smartphone app can also help patients make corrections.<\/p>\n

The researchers plan to test the sensors on patients with other conditions, such as Parkinson\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n

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(credit: Elliott Abel\/ Shirley Ryan AbilityLab)<\/p><\/div>\n

Body-chemicals sensor.<\/strong> Another patch developed by the Rogers Lab does colorimetric\u00a0analysis — determining the concentration of a chemical — for measuring sweat rate\/loss and electrolyte loss. The Rogers Lab has a contract with Gatorade, and is testing this technology with the U.S. Air Force, the Seattle Mariners, and other unnamed sports teams.<\/p>\n

Phone apps will also be available to capture precise colors and for data extraction, using algorithms.<\/p>\n