Over 80% of healthcare institutions are expected to have adopted IoT technology in 2019. According to research, the market for Internet Of Things (IoT) in healthcare is forecasted to surpass $10 billion by 2024. Some estimates also predict that spending for IoT in healthcare will hit the $1trillion landmark by 2025, possibly providing personalized, updated, accessible healthcare services. If you’re tracking all this data like we are at https://reinvently.com/, you will see the data shows that the IoT has grown from a simple idea as is steadily gaining traction in the real world.
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What Is It And How Does It Work?
IoT is a concept birthed in the idea of sufficiently extensive computing linked with objects and external activity. This will involve connecting microprocessors with electronic devices and sensors and allowing them to communicate with each other. The Internet Of Things is a genuinely ubiquitous network with electronic devices that have internet access.
In healthcare, an electronic device collects patient data and receives the healthcare professionals input. The mechanisms involved communicate with each other and even take decisive action in some cases to save a life. The IoT in healthcare will’ not only improve a patient’s health and save in critical situations; it will enhance the productivity of hospital workflows and healthcare providers and you may also need of discover more about kratom near me for better health.
Examples And Devices Of IoT In Healthcare
The medical world has opened up to the uprising of IoT. The practice of connecting medical devices to the internet to collect critical data is gaining grounds in different fields of medicine. When connected, regular devices can collect data, give additional insight into trends and symptoms, allow remote care, and give patients increased control over their treatment. Here are some examples of IoT in healthcare today.
- Ingestible sensors: because 50% of prescribed medication is not taken as instructed, smart medicine has stepped in to monitor adherence. Proteus Digital System has developed pills with a matching ornamental sensor for this. When the tablets are ingested, the sensor picks up light signals that confirm the patient took their medication as instructed and relays this information to a smartphone app. This opt-in system has dramatically improved better commitment to medicines.
- Connected inhalers: asthma affects hundreds of millions of people around the globe. IoT for healthcare, through connected inhalers, is beginning to help in treatment. Propeller Health has created inhalers with sensors attached to them or Bluetooth spirometers. This device communicates with an app that helps asthma patients as well as patients with chronic bronchitis and emphysema to understand the cause of their symptoms and provides helpful allergen forecasts. Connected inhalers, like ingestible sensors, also help with adherence.
- Connected contact lenses: there are daring applications of IoT on smart contact lenses in healthcare. Verily, a Google subsidiary, partnered with Alcon for four years to develop smart contact lenses that measured blood sugar levels through tears and serve as an early warning for diabetics. The science didn’t meet up with the technology on this project, but other companies have had success where Google and Alcon failed. Sentiment, a Swiss company, has developed non-invasive connected contact lenses that measure eye dimension changes that could lead to glaucoma.
- Automated insulin delivery: the founder of SmartLoops Lap, Bryan Mazlish, developed the first cloud-connected, automated closed-loop synthetic pancreas device for his wife and son who had type1 diabetes. Today, OpenAPS, a type of closed-loop insulin delivery system, helps maintain proper glucose levels by monitoring patient’s blood glucose levels and adjusting insulin delivery to their system accordingly. With this, diabetics can sleep through the night free from the peril of blood glucose levels dropping dangerously low.
The Good, The Bad, The Future
- Advantages: the most significant benefit out of all the IoT brings to healthcare is the substantial improvement in treatment outcomes. When data is gathered by IoT devices is accurate, more knowledgeable decisions are made.
- Problems: the massive inflow and outflow of data might be a problem unless AI algorithms are developed to manage them. Existing IT infrastructure in many hospitals is also too outdated to handle integration with IoT for healthcare. Lastly, the IoT devices could serve as an excellent vulnerable spot for hacks and virus attacks.
- Future outlook: medical services and gadgets can be improved with IoT. Hospitals, research organizations, surgical centers, and even government facilities will all move forward with such technology in operation.
Conclusion
There are some glaring vulnerability concerns in the air about IoT, but we can see the idea is still growing stronger. From diagnosis to adherence, the applications of IoT in healthcare are multiple. We might be closer than ever to a future where digital healthcare is the norm and not the exception. This will only advance as more IoT devices enter the market and get utilized as prescription medication.
It’s no wonder why tech giants like Google and Apple are getting busy with tools like GoogleFit and HealthKit. A future where Android and iOS applications interact seamlessly with the healthcare world using fluid UI mobile design is not hard to imagine.
