Biowearable Technology in Health Management

MIT researchers have developed a #wearable #ultrasound device that could potentially detect breast cancer in its early stages. This device could be particularly beneficial for patients at high risk of developing breast cancer between routine mammograms. As someone who has experienced personal loss to breast cancer, I am thrilled to see this advancement and as a professional working to empower #consumerhealth technologies and #accesstocare I am excited to see this shape up. 💡This innovative device, designed as a flexible patch that can be attached to a bra, targets those most likely to develop interval cancers - aggressive tumors that form between regular mammograms. 💡The device leverages the same ultrasound technology used in #medicalimaging centers, but with a twist. A novel piezoelectric material has been incorporated, allowing for #miniaturization of the ultrasound scanner without compromising the resolution of the images. 💡In preliminary tests, the device successfully detected cysts as small as 0.3 cm in diameter, equivalent to the size of early-stage tumors. 💡 The team is working on a miniaturized version of the imaging system, roughly the size of a smartphone. They also plan to incorporate #AI to analyze image changes over time, potentially offering more accurate #diagnostics 💡The wearable ultrasound patch is reusable and could be used at home, providing a practical solution for those at high risk for breast cancer who could benefit from frequent screening. It could also bridge the gap for those who lack regular #access to screening facilities. _________________________________________________________________________________ This is a significant step towards early detection and intervention, ultimately increasing survival rates especially for women with dense breast tissues. Read the entire Science paper at the link in comments. _________________________________________________________________________________ #healthcareonlinkedin #healthcareinnovation #breastcancerawareness #medicaldevices #wearabletechnology #earlydetection #accesstocare

A new Device paper demonstrates a combination of pneumatic actuation and artificial intelligence to capture incredibly rich biomechanical data in a flexible, wearable device! A wearable pneumatic-piezoelectric system for quantitative assessment of skeletomuscular biomechanics by Pooi See Lee & co-workers Link (OA): https://lnkd.in/gsRruH8S The bigger picture: Neuromuscular diseases affect millions of individuals worldwide, profoundly diminishing their quality of life and independence. Post-disease rehabilitation requires close monitoring of muscle condition to prevent further deterioration. However, the assessment of muscle stiffness has been restricted to clinical settings, either using bulky instruments or relying on subjective assessments by clinicians. Here, we develop a wearable technology for subjective, quantified, and easily accessible measurement of muscle stiffness. The device probes a target muscle through mechano-electrical coupling and assesses the muscle’s static and dynamic properties via different testing modes. It can potentially allow the patients to monitor their muscle conditions regularly and engage clinicians remotely by providing them with interpretable datasets. Ultimately, this technology will have a positive impact on tele-rehabilitation and proactive intervention for individuals with neuromuscular conditions. #wearable #physicaltherapy #neuromuscular #biomedical

In the future "Smart Tattoos" and getting Ink'd with integrated biosensors for health applications may enable skin to be an interactive display for health and medicine. This insightful piece by CNN's Samantha Bresnahan (with some commentary from yours truly) features pre-clinical work by Ali K. Yetisen et al at the Imperial College London (an extension from prior work at MIT Media Lab and Harvard Medical School) developing “smart tattoo” pigments that can be injected under the skin to monitor certain biomarkers, ranging from blood sugar, to liver and kidney function, to medication and hydration levels. Research by Carson Bruns at University of Colorado Boulder developing  smart #tattoos to help monitor external factors such as radiation or UV light exposure, is now being commercialized by a company called Magic Ink. Still early work, but #skin based technology for real-time monitoring (without patches & battery issues) include the prospective fusion of artistry and science, where our very skin could become a dynamic canvas illustrating and tracking our health journeys. #health #medicine #wearables #tattoo #biomarkers #digitalhealth #wellness #diagnostics #UVprotection #pharma #healthmonitoring https://lnkd.in/grDSAAgN