Smartphones are providing solutions to improve efficiency and create innovative ways to resolve problems affecting certain segments of society. The healthcare industry is in dire need of solutions that will improve the bloated system currently chewing up almost $3 trillion annually. mHealth research at The University of Alabama in Huntsville has been working on a wireless personal health monitoring system using smartphones to provide data to healthcare providers using the Internet. The research is being conducted by Dr. Emil Jovanov and Dr. Aleksandar Milenkovic with funding from the National Science Foundation.
While there are many applications in the market place to monitor and send data to healthcare providers, the research in Huntsville uses Wireless Body Area Networks (WBAN) for health monitoring as a sensor system. These sensors are placed on or in the human body to communicate health information to the physician and researchers as accumulated data and directly to the patient.
"When WBAN is used to monitor diabetes patients using an implanted blood glucose sensor and insulin pump, the system can determine how much insulin should be released, not only based on the blood glucose level, but based on the level of activity and condition of the whole organism. This is a fundamentally different approach made possible by the advances in technology, and we are proud that the first paper on it came from UAH." said Dr. Jovanov.
This system not only monitors generic information other system provide, but it provides information about the physical activity of the patient, which is critical for individuals that need their activities monitored. The system can be designed with customized programs to encourage patients to exercise, rest and do other activities by being monitored with a professional in another part of the city or country.
The researchers have two applications that use smartphones with sensors that are already part of the phone. The first one is a cardiac health monitor which reports any changes in the heart activity of the patient when he or she stands up. The motion sensor in the smartphone detects when the patient gets up and a wireless heart sensor records heart activity and transmits the data using the phones cellular or Wi-Fi capability.
The second application is designed for individuals in wheelchairs. The application monitors wheelchair activity by allowing the smartphone to detect a magnet placed on the wheel. Each rotation is counted and based on this information the distance, speed and duration of the activity is recorded. The technology is also able to detect if the wheelchair has been pushed by someone or propelled by the user.
Implementing this and other technologies will give healthcare providers and patients solutions that are more effective and cheaper to administer. While hospital grade monitors can cost up to $15,000 each Dr. Jovanov and Dr. Milenkovic want mHealth monitors in the $50 to $500 price range.
Edited by
Brooke Neuman
