Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/332636
By Katy Mena-Berkley IMAGE COURTESY OF MOTICON THESE DEVICES OFFER RELIABLE, CONVENIENT, AUTOMATED MONITORING OPTIONS. PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT Monitoring Goes Mobile Moticon's OpenGo Sensor P a t i e n t s w i t h lower-extremity pain caused by arthritis, fractures, sprains a nd ot her condi- tions often require surgery and a lengthy recovery peppered with frequent visits to their physicians or physical therapists. But the postoperative period just got less time- consuming for orthopedic surgeons and their patients. Moticon's OpenGo sensor insoles remotely monitor patients' progress through their shoes, reducing the need for in-offi ce checkups. Using 13 pressure sensors, a 3-D accelerometer, a temperature sensor and integrated storage, the OpenGo sensor system measures everything from acceleration to balance to foot temperature and weight-bearing. The data can be collected continuously for up to four weeks and stored on an ANT+ enabled fl ash drive. It can also be streamed to a computer or mobile device in real time. Moticon has plans to enhance the OpenGo sensor, intro- ducing phone-based audio, haptic or visual feedback into the device. This will aid rehabilitation after patients suffer a lower-extremity fracture or undergo hip or knee replace- ment. The added capabilities will also assist patients who have Parkinson's disease or diabetic neuropathy in the legs. Perminova's CoVa Necklace Resembling jewelry from the set of Star Trek, Perminova's CoVa neck- lace brings at-home monitoring to a new level. In approximately 15 minutes per day, the sensor can wirelessly collect and send data via cloud technology. Disposable electrodes are attached to the necklace, which adheres to the chest. Once in contact with the patient's body, these electrodes can monitor cardiac output, heart rate, heart rate variability, posture, respiration rate, single-lead ECG, stroke volume and thoracic fl uid measurements. Data travels from the CoVa necklace via Bluetooth to home health data hubs such as the Qualcomm 2net System, enabling caregivers and clinical providers to regularly monitor the condition of patients. With consistent monitoring of these patient variables, interventions can be made effi ciently, reducing the occurrence of serious incidents and hospital readmissions. FDA approval is expected during the third quarter of 2014, according to Perminova. Pixie Brief W i t h t h e P i x i e Brief, Pixie Scientific has reimagined wear- a b l e m o n i t o r i n g . Featuring a QR code patch, the disposable briefs ca n eva luate u r i n e a n d d e t e c t conditions that may need the attention of a physician. By s c a n n i n g t he QR code on the front of the Pixie Brief, a caregiver, patient or physician is able to collect valuable data that can be analyzed in a matter of seconds. Specifically, Pixie Briefs can detect urinary tract infections and prolonged dehydra- tion — conditions that may have profound effects on overall health and quality of life. Urinary tract infections frequently go undetected among aging adults who have compromised immune systems but do not exhibit signs such as fever. With the Pixie Brief, these infections can be identified and treated before they result in a trip to the emergency room or permanent kidney damage. ■ IMAGE COURTESY OF PERMINOVA IMAGE COURTESY OF PIXIE SCIENTIFIC CORE 4 4 | Cleveland/Akron/Canton MD NEWS ■ M D N E W S . CO M ■ J U LY/AU G U S T 2 0 1 4