A Sensing Disturbance

Boss takes a look at the most innovative medical sensors that could have a considerable impact on those who use them and the healthcare sector at large.

- Matthew Flynn

From AI assisting in diagnosis to 3D-printing scaffolds and prosthetics, technology has had a considerable impact on healthcare. As IoT technology has grown, the effectiveness and availability of medical sensors that can assist in preventive care and monitoring, and treating existing conditions, have grown. These medical sensors allow patients to go longer periods of time between visits to the doctor and spend more time out in the world rather than at home or in a hospital where they have access to monitoring equipment.

BOSS takes a look at the most innovative medical sensors that could have a considerable impact on those who use them and the healthcare sector at large.

Dissolvable Brain Sensors

According to the CDC, traumatic brain injury (TBI) contributes to the deaths of more than 50,000 people in the US every year. TBI can cause swelling in the brain that can restrict the flow of blood and oxygen, causing permanent brain damage. Doctors and surgeons need to monitor intracranial pressure during recovery to make sure swelling doesn’t occur.

Bioresorbable silicon electronic sensors such as those developed by Rogers Research Group at Northwestern University can be implanted in the brain to measure pressure without the use of big pieces of equipment. Better yet, the extremely thin circuits can provide accurate readings until they are absorbed into the body after a few days — no surgery required for removal.

Ingestible Sensors