HEALTH

by Saeed Zahedi
Chas A. Blatchford

Wearable Medical Devices to Enhance Well-being

Over the last 3 years, PDD has taken a leading role in humanising technology, enabling independent living for an increasing population of elderly, diabetics and disabled people. Applications of advance technology have also been used in the creation of innovative products, aimed at improving well-being in the form of smart medical products. A key area of technology application has been in the creation of innovative interfaces, as well as the creation of advanced interactive designs. Use of textile patches with scaffold for delivery of drug has already been explored by Pharma industry. Application of advance technology for provision of safe and invisible control of diabetic using compact actuators integrated with electro textile membrane, power paper and biosensors are being explored by many leading device manufacturers.

In order to focus the direction of future work towards interactive design and increase our knowledge base of wearable devices, PDD has funded a 2-year research programme in conjunction with UK government. The aim of the research programme is to understand the requirements of the medical devices, systems and products, which could enhance well-being, and facilitate independent living. Such products, for example, could be used for continuous monitoring of physiological parameters, integrated with smart diagnostic systems, providing alerts, prognosis and communication of key data through a telecare system to a specialist. Current research in electro textiles, knitted electrodes, biosensors in medical bio textiles scaffolds, Bioactive fibres, or the work by William Lee innovation centre have identified several routes for future product development. PDD’s programme aims to discover more about the potential applications of wearable medical devices, the required specification of materials, such as electro-textiles and other interfaces, which could be used for monitoring, healing, alerting, controlling and communicating.

Saeed Zahedi was at PDD and is now at Chas A. Blatchford