Over the past decade, medical science has advanced by leaps and bounds. Entering the new year, many people pay attention to their own physical health. Whether you’re doing fitness or just trying to live a little better, diet and exercise go a long way, but a wearable medical device can help you keep track of other information that can be more difficult to deal with, like your blood pressure. or hydration levels.
At CES 2020, companies such as Withings, Omron, WELT, and more, announced smart wearable technologies that can help people live better, regardless of their health conditions. This article explores this wearable medical technology and what exactly makes it so special.
Withings ScanWatch
The Withings ScanWatch stands out at CES 2020 as one of the best medical wearables. It measures an astounding range of data, including heart rate, activity, heart rate during sleep, oxygen saturation, altitude, sleep, and more.
The Withings ScanWatch only needs to be charged every 30 days or so, making it the perfect companion for elderly parents or those who are a little forgetful and might remember to charge their device themselves.
However, the true advantage of ScanWatch is its 24/7 heart rate monitoring. If the watch detects a problem, it can tell the user to record an ECG, the results of which can be displayed directly in the app. The ScanWatch can also monitor for signs of sleep apnea and promptly alert the user well before they participate in a sleep study.
Finally, in addition to all the health features, the ScanWatch is much more like a regular watch than other medical wearable devices. This makes it more attractive to people who may be ashamed of having to wear a medical device, and it also has quite a few smart features that make it worthwhile.
You can receive text messages and notifications inside ScanWatch as you would on any other smart device. When it comes to wearables, ScanWatch is a step in the right direction.
Omron Heart Guide
Omron HeartGuide is a smartwatch that simultaneously measures blood pressure. It uses the same type of technology you can find in a doctor’s office to measure your blood pressure – an inflatable blood pressure cuff. This means the readings it provides are more accurate than multifunction device readings and can provide users with data that their doctors can use to adjust their medications and provide more accurate recommendations.
In addition to monitoring your blood pressure, HeartGuide also tracks your daily activity, heart rate and sleep quality. Users also receive the usual smart notifications on the device, such as text messages, calls, and emails.
However, due to the amount of energy required to inflate and deflate the cuff, users may expect to charge HeartGuide two to three times a week. HeartGuide does not automatically inflate; instead, it reminds you when to take blood pressure so the user can sit down for a more accurate measurement.
HeartGuide stores up to 100 readings in internal memory, but also connects to the HeartAdvisor app for unlimited storage. For people with heart disease, constant blood pressure measurements are important to reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack. Omron HeartGuide makes this easy by not having to adjust the blood pressure cuff every time.
WELT Smart Belt Pro
Every year, millions of people fall, and for the average person, falling is not so dangerous. However, a fall can be devastating for an elderly person or someone with other health problems, especially if they are unable to stand up on their own. The WELT Smart Belt Pro combats this risk by analyzing the wearer’s walking patterns to determine the risk of a fall before it occurs.
Smart Belt Pro provides gait analysis using belt sensors. It measures when walking speed becomes erratic and detects abnormal symmetry in the user. Data can be transferred via smartphones to help caregivers monitor patients. If Smart Belt Pro detects an unstable gait and an increased risk of falling, it will send an alert to the user’s phone.
Apart from the built-in sensors, Smart Belt Pro looks like a regular belt. It is made of Italian leather with a silver automatic buckle. It can fit into any outfit that doesn’t look like a medical device.
eSkin Sleep and Lounge
While these “smart pajamas†are not medical “wearable†in the traditional sense, they are an ideal item for older parents. The clothing is loose and comfortable, but capable of detecting falls, monitoring general activity, and monitoring sleep patterns. The Sleep and Lounge eSkin can also distinguish between slipping and falling, stumbling and falling.
This collection has two options for clothing: pajamas and homewear. Homewear looks more like sportswear than pajamas, but is great for everyday wear around the house.
The Sleep and Lounge suite has yet to launch, but interested parties can sign up for more information at xenoma.com
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